Complex Issues In The Great Lakes

Complex issues such as health problems, environmental issues, or environmental health problems, such as air and water pollution, hazard wastes sites, lead poisoning and species instability are all liked together and are fixed in communities in which they occur. These kinds of complex problems that occur in communities are said to be “wicked problems” where different stakeholders cannot find scientific solutions in order to fix these complex issues. These problems are seen throughout the world, many strategic plans need to be developed in order to tackle these issues, but sometimes researchers come up short (Kreuter & De Rosa, 2004).
The Great Lakes ecosystem is the largest body of freshwater in the world. This ecosystem holds 18% of the worlds freshwater supply in the world, it covers 95000 square miles of shoreline; includes 5000 tributaries and has an area of drainage of 288000 square miles. The Basin is populated with more than 35 million people and they depend on its natural resources to sustain their lives (Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Team). The …show more content…
Over the past 20 years there has been outstanding progress in reducing the toxic chemicals entering the Great Lakes Basin, but many chemicals continue to be persevered in the lake sediments, especially in high concentrations, (toxic Chemicals). Buried contaminants within the sediments is proof that decades of industrial, municipal and non-point source pollution occurred, which can be submerged due to high intensity storms that can promote more pollution in the Great Lakes. These contaminants can re-enter the food web and can cause serious health and ecological impacts (Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Team). The five chemicals of concern within the Basin are mercury, copper, PCBs, PAHs and Atrazine (Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Team). Figures one, two and three illustrate where copper, Mercury and PCBs are located within the