The Huron Expositor, 1998-05-13, Page 7II -THE HURON EXCITOR. MAY 13. 111911
Bacteria test
inc onchjsive
Human and animal waste
lead to E coli pollution
BY ELLEN DOUGLAS
Lakeshore Advance Staff
The final results of a study of
Lake Huron -pollution are
inconclusive when it comes to
saying whether humans or
livestock are the main source
of bacteria in the lake.
What the study does state is
that deficient municipal
sewage treatment systems.
poor agricultural manure
management practices and
faulty or illegally connected
septic tank systems all
contribute to the high E. coli
counts that close Lake Huron
beaches.
SOLVE is made up of health
units, -an environmental
group. conservation
authorities, the Huron
Environmental Farm
Coalition, the Town of
Goderich and the Ministry of
Environment and the Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
A total of 245 water samples
were collected from beaches
at Port Albert, Goderich,
Bayfield, St. Joseph's, Grand
Bl'nd. Port Franks and
Ip,
Five samples werc taken
from ::ach beach during seven
different sampling days
between Sept. 23 and Dec. 5
1997.
The study used antibiotics to
try to fingerprint the source of
thc bacteria. In theory.
bacteria from human sources
should be more resistant to
antibiotics used only on
humans and therefore harder
to kill.
On the other hand, bacteria
from animal sources should
be more resistant to
antibiotics used on animals.
The study then took samples
from sewage treatment plants
and swine manure.
The final results were
released at a press conference
Tuesday at- the Ausable
• Bayfield Conservation
Authority (ABCA).
"It's a bit of a
disappointment," said ABCA
manager Tom Prout. "We had
hoped to be able to determine
the relative frequencies of the
sources. However, the science
is still new and thc 1$7,0001
budget was meager."
There were also several
other limitations to the study:
• The study should have
included spring and summer
months.
• Time was limited so the
study couldn't look at the
impact of wildlife.
• A broader range of
antibiotics used by doctors
and veterinarians should have
been tested on the bacteria.
• Other sources of animal
Manure should have been
tested, not just manure from
hogs.
• The E. coli were more
resistant than what was
expected.
Despite the flaws in the
study, Prout said he does not
think it was a waste of time.
"I'm very optimistic and
pleased with what was
accomplished." he said. "It
was a very worthwhile
Snooker - Gordon Murray makes his shot during a round
of snooker in last week's Senior Games action.
HILGENDORFF PHOTO
effort."
One of the purposes of the
study was to reduce the
amount of blaming going on
between the different groups.
"We have not totally
eliminated thc finger
pointing," said Prout. "But we
have been able to provide an
opportunity for a diverse
group of people to get
together and learn a bit about
each other."
The study recommends a
number of ways to deal with
these issues:
• Municipalities should
create manure management
bylaws so all farming
operations would have to file
a plan. Also, retention ponds
should he required for tiled
land.
• An inventory should he
established of every farm
Banning pesticide use protects families,
FROM Page 4
conclusions:
-The amounts and variety of
pesticides now used are far
greater than in any other time
in history.
-Infants and children arc
more likely than adults to
suffer the toxic effects of
exposure to pesticides as a
result of different metabolic
rates, a greater absorptive
area, diets more concentrated
in certain foodshigh in
pesticide residues and a
relatively immature immune
system.
-Statutory government -
controlled guidelines for the
safety of the use of pesticides
often use laboratory and
scientific data which does not
necessarily represent the
dangers to human health.
-Current regulatory systems'
only look at the average
exposure of the entire
population. As 'a
consequence, variations in
exposure to pesticides related
to age, geographic location
and ethnic behavioral
differences are not addressed.
So, why do many families
continue to make their lawns
and gardens a health hazard
to their children, themselves,
and their pets and wildlife?
Why do municipalities and
school hoards continue to
spray public grounds and
playing fields where little
children play and frolic?
Many individuals and some
wise and concerned
municipalities such as Cote
St. Luc, Quebec, have ceased
to use such agents.
pets, wildlife
It is increasingly apparent
that, for communities to
obtain a greater level of
health and well-being,
political leadership of the
type offered in Cote St. Luc is
mandatory.
Institutions. organizations
and governments have been
progressive and assertive in
protecting individuals from
the risks of second-hand
smoke. Now is the time to
make our private and public
lands a safer place for all by
banning the unnecessary
urban use of pesticides.
We should always
remember the words of Chief
Seattle. "Whatever we do
unto the web of life, we do
unto ourselves."
Jim Hollingworth, M.D:,
Goderich
recording the method 'of
manure storage and disposal.
• Establish an inventory of
every on-site sewage system
in the county.
• A bylaw should be created
to require residents the
provide proof of septic :tank
maintenance.
• Require municipalities
with sewage treatment plants
or lagoons to identify and
repair points where storm
water gets into sanitary
sewers.
• Provide incentives for
upgrading municipal sewage
treatment facilities.
• Require municipalities to
avoid discharging untreated
effluent into surface water.
• Be more aggressive when
looking into antibiotic use on
animals.
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