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Well Water in Karst Regions of Northeastern Wisconsin Contains Estrogenic Factors, Nitrate, and Bacteria
Author(s) -
Bauer Angela C.,
Wingert Sarah,
Fermanich Kevin J.,
Zorn Michael E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143012x13373575831358
Subject(s) - karst , environmental science , pollutant , nitrate , environmental chemistry , water quality , contamination , indicator bacteria , snowmelt , endocrine disruptor , water pollution , fecal coliform , hydrology (agriculture) , surface runoff , ecology , biology , chemistry , endocrine system , geology , paleontology , biochemistry , geotechnical engineering , hormone
Well water in karst regions is particularly susceptible to contamination by various nonpoint source pollutants such as nitrate, fecal bacteria, and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This study analyzed 40 wells in heavily farmed karst areas of northeastern Wisconsin to determine whether these and other pollutants are present, and if so, whether their presence is (1) correlated with other contaminants and (2) exhibits seasonal variation. Nitrate, bacteria, and estrogenicity (indicating the presence of EDCs) were present in at least some of well water samples collected over the course of four time periods between the summers of 2008 and 2009. Although estrogenicity was greatest during the summer months, bacterial contamination was most prevalent during snowmelt. Levels of estrogenicity present in some well water samples approached a threshold concentration that is known to exert endocrine disruption in wildlife. Strong correlations between estrogenicity and other water quality parameters were not found.