skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Plan of study for selected toxic substances in the Calcasieu River, Louisiana

Book ·
OSTI ID:5048662

In 1984 the US Geological Survey established the Toxic Substances Hydrology, Surface-Water Contamination Program. As part of this program, an investigation of the lower Calcasieu River, Louisiana, began in 1985 to define the magnitude and distribution of selected toxic substances in the Calcasieu River and the physical and chemical processes that govern their fate. The major elements of the investigation are: (1) a compilation of previous studies of the Calcasieu River by various Federal, State, and local agencies; (2) reconnaissance surveys of chemical constituents in the water column and bottom material; (3) a remobilization study; (4) a study of microbial degradation; (5) studies of the presence of synthetic organic compounds in the tissues of fish, clams, and crabs; (6) volatilization studies of compounds such as bromoform and chloroform; (7) sediment-water interface studies; and (8) the development of a streamflow model to provide a hydrologic framework for water quality analysis. Preliminary results were used to select for intensive study of the following substances in water, bottom material, and biota: ammonia, nitrite plus nitrate, chromium, iron, mercury, bromoform, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorobutadiene, naphthalene, octachloronaphthalene, benzopyrene, and benzoperylene. 11 refs., 5 figs., 5 tabs.

OSTI ID:
5048662
Resource Relation:
Related Information: USGS Open-File Report 90-148
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English