Manmade organic compounds in the surface waters of the United States: A review of current understanding
On the basis of their aqueous solubilities, nonionic organic compounds partition themselves between water, dissolved organic matter, particulate organic matter, and the lipid reservoirs of aquatic organisms. Ionized organic compounds can be adsorbed to sediments, thereby reducing their aqueous concentrations. Transformation processes of photolysis, hydrolysis, biodegradation, and volatilization can attenuate organic compounds, and attenuation rates commonly follow a first-order kinetic process. Eight groups of manmade organic compounds are discussed: (1) polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine insecticides; (2) carbamate and organophosphorus; (3) herbicides; (4) phenols; (5) halogenated aliphatic and monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; (6) phthalate esters; (7) polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and (8) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. For each compound group, data pertaining to use, production, and properties are presented and discussed. Process that influence the environmental fate of each group, as determined primarily through laboratory studies, are reviewed, and important fate process are identified. Environmental concentrations of compounds from each group in water, biota, and sediment are given to demonstrate representative values for comparison to concentrations determined during ongoing research. Finally, where sufficient data exist, regional and temporal contamination trends in the US are discussed. 699 refs., 26 figs., 47 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6652416
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: USGS Open-File Report 87-209
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SURFACE WATERS
WATER POLLUTION
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HERBICIDES
INSECTICIDES
PHTHALIC ACID ESTERS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
REVIEWS
SOLUBILITY
WATER CHEMISTRY
AROMATICS
CHEMISTRY
DOCUMENT TYPES
ESTERS
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)