Use of elutriate tests and bottom-material analysis in simulation dredging effects on water quality of selected rivers and estuaries in Oregon and Washington, 1980-83

Book · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6793009

Fuhrer, G J; Evans, D ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Portland, OR (United States)

Native waters, elutriate-test filtrates, and bottom materials were analyzed for selected trace metals and organic compounds listed in the US Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutant list, prior to dredging and disposal activities. A single reconnaissance sampling was made at several sites located in 17 rivers and estuaries, from 1980 to 1983, in an area that extends south to the Coos river in western Oregon; north to Baker Bay in southwest Washington; east to the Willamette River near Portland, Oregon; and west to the Pacific Ocean. Copper, iron, lead, manganese, and zinc were the only trace metals detected in about 50% of the native-water samples. In contrast, arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, and zinc were detected in about 50% of the elutriate-test filtrate generally were below analytical detection limits. The organochlorine compounds dieldrin, endosulfan, endrine, heptachlor, and lindane were detected in 25% of the bottom-material samples. Concentrations of ammonia, beryllium, cadmium, copper, manganese, and mercury were the only chemicals found to exceed aquatic life criteria in elutriate-test filtrate. Beryllium and copper concentrations ere localized to the Astoria and Skipanon project areas, respectively. Cadmium concentrations exceeding US Environmental Protection Agency criteria occurred near the mouth of the Columbia River. 61 refs., 4 figs., 19 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6793009
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
AMMONIA
ARSENIC
BERYLLIUM
CADMIUM
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ESTUARIES
FEDERAL REGION X
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRON
LEAD
MANGANESE
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATION
MERCURY
METALS
NICKEL
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OREGON
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RIVERS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SAMPLING
SEDIMENTS
SEMIMETALS
STANDARDS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WASHINGTON
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC