Caffeinated Pollution?

It may be the epicentre of the U.S coffee culture but recent research has also suggested that the Pacific Northwest may also be at the centre of a coffee pollution scandal.

Caffeine pollution has been traced in the Pacific Ocean off of Oregon coastline. Which is proof that human waste is contaminating the natural water ways and systems and having a detrimental effect on wildlife.

Scientists tested high-risk sites, such as land near sewage plants, major cities and river mouths as well as more rural areas.

Surprisingly, it was the land near state parks and remote river sites that showed the most pollution.

The hypothesis for this being that developed areas have evolved more stringent methods of dealing with polluted water.

Clearly though, there still needs some work to be done as even in these better protected areas, caffeine has still clearly been visible in the water supply.

One person who welcomes the new research is hydrologist Dana Kolpin, who has observed caffeine concentrations in fresh water before but not in marine environments.

She states that in the waste water humans dispose of there is a whole host of potentially dangerous chemicals, hormones, perfumes and even artificial sweeteners.

Many wild life campaigners are stating that caffeine in the water is very much a ‘canary in the coal mine’ and is a warning that we need to take notice of.

The stimulants impact on the eco system at cellular water level is yet unknown.

Accompanied with the rest of the ‘contaminant soup’ as it is affectionately known, it can only have a detrimental effect.

It’s not just America either, unfortunately due to the global nature of coffee, the resulting caffeinated pollution has also registered on tests in the North Sea, the Mediterranean and Boston Harbour.

Non lethal impacts of caffeine have been recorded in the behaviour of intertidal mussels, causing them to produce specialised proteins in response to environmental stresses. This will go on to have a knock on effect for the predator chain of that mollusc for continuing generations and pan out into the surrounding eco system.

So the effects of caffeine in the water will soon be apparent unless we do something now to stop it.

The Pacific Northwest caffeine research was published in the July 2012 edition of the Marine Pollution Bulletin.