Low level contaminant detection: Implications to loading estimates and management of coastal discharges

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

OSTI ID:242409

Hunt, C; West, D; Uhler, A; Peven, C ^[1]

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1. Battelle Ocean Sciences, Duxbury, MA (United States)

Characterization of effluents using low level analytical method detection limits has been applied during an eighteen-month long characterization of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Deer Island primary treated sewage effluent. Nine metals, 40 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), C{sub 10} to C{sub 14} linear alkyl benzenes (LAB), 20 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and 16 persistent chlorinated pesticides were measured. Contaminant concentrations ranged as follows: total PAH, 13 and 32 {micro}g/L; total PCBs, 17--110 ng/L; total chlordanes, 0--74 ng/L; lindane, 2--16 ng/L; total LABs, 7.5--22 {micro}g/L; dieldrin < 5 {micro}g/L. Metal concentrations (in {micro}g/L) were: Ag, 3--7.5; Cd, 0.4--1.4; Cr, 2.7--11; Cu, 48--111; Hg, 0.1--0.26; Mo, 5--25; Ni, 4.6--9; Pb, 6--26; Zn, 70--136. Seasonal trends were observed for some contaminant. Organic compounds were consistently less that the acute water quality criteria in the undiluted effluent. Values p,p{prime}-DDT, Ag, Cu, Hg, and Pb and occasionally for dieldrin, endrin and heptachlor exceeded the chronic marine criteria. Dilution of the effluent will quickly reduce contaminants concentrations below the chronic criteria. Application of these methods has resulted in substantial improvements to estimates of contaminant discharge to the coastal waters of Massachusetts Bay. Further, measurements of the efficiency of the planned secondary treatment processes has demonstrated that secondary treatment will be highly effective in removal of many organic compounds and metals from the primary effluent and that secondary treatment will significantly alter the source signature of PAHs in the discharge. Availability of such information is providing environmental planners with more effective tools for monitoring impact from this treatment facility.

• OSTI ID: 242409
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9626%%237
• Resource Relation: Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MASSACHUSETTS
WATER POLLUTION
COASTAL WATERS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
SILVER
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
COPPER
MERCURY
MOLYBDENUM
NICKEL
LEAD
ZINC
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
MARINE DISPOSAL
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
MONITORING