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Perfluorinated Compounds In The Ohio River Basin
Citation:
Nakayama, S. F., E. Emery, M. MILLS, AND J. Spaeth. Perfluorinated Compounds In The Ohio River Basin. Presented at PFAA Days III Conference, Durham, NC, June 08 - 10, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
To document the occurrence and concentrations of CEC's, including PFCs.
Description:
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in waterways include pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), alkylphenols, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFCs). Their distributions and persistence in the aquatic environment remain poorly defined and public awareness and concern about these materials is increasing. Among these compounds, the PFCs have been studied in a small number of U.S. watersheds, with data describing their longitudinal occurrence and concentration in large river systems still being very scarce. Because the Ohio River and its tributaries provide drinking water, irrigation, and recreation for 25 million people living in this basin, it is essential to determine the occurrence and concentration of the various PFCs in the surface water resources of this region. To meet this need, in the fall of 2009, the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) collaborated with U.S. EPA to collect single grab samples from 22 locations on the Ohio River and some selected tributaries. The primary focus of this study was to document the occurrence and concentrations of CECs, including PFCs.