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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Uptake of selected organics and metals by terrestrial vegetation and insects at a site in Arizona

Conference ·
OSTI ID:455297
 [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Geraghty and Miller, Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
  2. Geraghty and Miller, Raleigh, NC (United States)
  3. Geraghty and Miller, Phoenix, AZ (United States)
As part of an investigation at a CERCLA site in Arizona, 27 potential sources of contamination (PSCS) were identified for study. A screening level ecological risk assessment was conducted for each PSC using generic plant uptake factors and conservative exposure parameters. Risk estimates were calculated for the indicator species using the hazard index (HI) approach. Results of the screening level assessment indicated that 4 of the 27 PSCs required further evaluation due to elevated HIs. The contaminants of potential concern (COPCS) are antimony, cadmium, lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). A field sampling program at the 4 PSCs and a site-specific background location was conduct4ed to collect the food sources for the indicator species. The samples have been analyzed for the COPCs and the results are being used to validate the screening level risk calculations. The site-specific soil-to-plant uptake factors will be compared to generic soil-to-plant uptake factors obtained from the scientific literature, with emphasis placed on studies done in similar arid environments. Contaminant-specific soil-to-insect bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) will be presented and compared to BAFs derived using published bioaccumulation models.
OSTI ID:
455297
Report Number(s):
CONF-961149--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English