Annual variability of PAH concentrations in the Potomac River watershed

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

OSTI ID:458349

Maher, I L; Foster, G D ^[1]

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1. George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

Dynamics of organic contaminant transport in a large river system is influenced by annual variability in organic contaminant concentrations. Surface runoff and groundwater input control the flow of river waters. They are also the two major inputs of contaminants to river waters. The annual variability of contaminant concentrations in rivers may or may not represent similar trends to the flow changes of river waters. The purpose of the research is to define the annual variability in concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in riverine environment. To accomplish this, from March 1992 to March 1995 samples of Potomac River water were collected monthly or bimonthly downstream of the Chesapeake Bay fall line (Chain Bridge) during base flow and main storm flow hydrologic conditions. Concentrations of selected PAHs were measured in the dissolved phase and the particulate phase via GC/MS. The study of the annual variability of PAH concentrations will be performed through comparisons of PAH concentrations seasonally, annually, and through study of PAH concentration river discharge dependency and rainfall dependency. For selected PAHs monthly and annual loadings will be estimated based on their measured concentrations and average daily river discharge. The monthly loadings of selected PAHs will be compared by seasons and annually.

• OSTI ID: 458349
• Report Number(s): CONF-961149--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MONITORING
MONTHLY VARIATIONS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
POTOMAC RIVER
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
WATER POLLUTION