Detailed PCB congener characterization of influent and effluent at New York and New Jersey WPCPs

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:242357

Durell, G S; Lizotte, Jr, R D ^[1]; Solomon, M H; Green, J W ^[2]; Spadone, J; Pires, L ^[3]

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1. Battelle Ocean Sciences, Duxbury, MA (United States)
2. New York City DEP, Corona, NY (United States)
3. Linden Roselle Sewerage Authority, Linden, NJ (United States)

The waste streams at 26 New York City and New Jersey water pollution control plants (WPCP) were characterized for PCB. Time-integrated influent and effluent samples were collected during normal and high (storm) flow conditions; high flow influent simulated what may by-pass the plant and be discharged through combined sewer overflows. State-of-the-art congener-specific analytical methods were used to achieve detection limits from 0.05 to 0.3 ng/L. Concentrations of 71 individual PCB congeners that constitute approximately 95% of the total PCB in Aroclors and environmental samples were determined. The PCB concentrations and congener distributions varied notably among plants. Individual congener concentrations were typically well below 1 ng/L in the effluent, with a few congeners being detected at 5 to 10 ng/L levels in some samples. The concentrations were under 1 ng/L in most influent samples, with occasional determinations above 10 ng/L. The average total PCB concentration, defined as the sum of the 71 individual congener concentrations, at the 26 WPCPs were 27, 110, and 160 ng/L for normal flow effluent, normal flow influent, and high flow influent, respectively. The results indicate that PCB levels in New York City and New Jersey WPCP discharges are generally low, with most effluent having total PCB concentrations below 0.05 {micro}g/L. The PCB levels in the influent were commonly under 0.1 {micro}g/L and became slightly elevated at most plants during storms while at some plants the increase in flow appeared to dilute the PCB in the influent. The WPCPs remove, on average, approximately 75% of the PCB received in the influent.

• OSTI ID: 242357
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
MONITORING
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK CITY
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
WATER POLLUTION