Grantee Research Project Results
2001 Progress Report: Atmospheric Dry Particle Deposition of POPs and Trace Metals in an Urban- and Industrially-Impacted Mid-Atlantic Estuary (AEOLOS B Mid-Atlantic)
EPA Grant Number: R828177Title: Atmospheric Dry Particle Deposition of POPs and Trace Metals in an Urban- and Industrially-Impacted Mid-Atlantic Estuary (AEOLOS B Mid-Atlantic)
Investigators: Eisenreich, Steven J. , Totten, Lisa A. , Holsen, Thomas M.
Current Investigators: Totten, Lisa A. , Eisenreich, Steven J. , Holsen, Thomas M.
Institution: Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Current Institution: Rutgers
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: August 1, 2000 through July 31, 2002 (Extended to July 31, 2004)
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2000 through July 31, 2001
Project Amount: $230,000
RFA: Exploratory Research - Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics) (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Land and Waste Management , Air , Safer Chemicals
Objective:
The objectives of this research project are to: (1) determine the dry depositional flux of coarse and fine particles, selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and trace metals in the lower Hudson River Estuary (HRE) using surrogate depositional surfaces; (2) determine the seasonal particle-size distribution of mass, selected POPs, and trace metals in the lower HRE; (3) model the dry particle depositional fluxes of particle mass, selected POPs, and trace metals in the HRE based on the particle size distribution; (4) provide a field evaluation of the surrogate surface and models to estimate dry particle depositional fluxes; and (5) provide an assessment of the dry depositional component of the atmospheric deposition of selected POPs and trace metals to the lower HRE.
Progress Summary:
Five field experiments were conducted from June through August 2001 to: (1) test the operation of automated dry deposition collectors (MIC-B dry-wet); (2) estimate the dry deposition mass fluxes at the New Brunswick (NB) site; (3) compare different depositional media and choose appropriate media for total mass, trace metals, and organic compounds; and (4) determine the appropriate deployment time for intensive field campaigns. Two integrating MIC B wet-only collectors were purchased and sent to Clarkson University, where they were converted into automated dry-wet deposition collectors. They were then returned to Rutgers University, where they have been undergoing field-testing and calibration.
After completion of testing and calibration, long-term sampling began at both the Liberty Science Center (LS) and NB locations on August 15, 2001. Samples have been deployed continuously for periods of 12 days since the inception of the long-term sampling campaign. Three types of fluxes have been measured: (1) mass; (2) polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB); and (3) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH).
Higher mass fluxes are observed at the LS than at NB, although the magnitude of the difference depends on the type of media used to sample particles. Quartz fiber filters (QFFs) are as efficient as greased strips in capturing particles at NB, but not at the LS. This difference may be due to the saturation of particle loadings on QFFs during the 12-day sampling period because of the high particle concentrations at the LS. QFFs were used to measure PCB and PAH fluxes.
The PCB flux at NB is 28 percent of that at the LS, while the particle mass flux is 72 percent. This suggests that particles at the LS site are loaded with higher PCB concentrations than particles at the NB site, which is in agreement with the results from the New Jersey Atmospheric Deposition Network (NJADN). The fluxes obtained during long-term sampling are directly measured fluxes (PCB mass divided by deposition area and deploy time). They may be compared with modeled fluxes from the NJADN, which are calculated from the product of average sum of PCB concentrations of particulate samples (collected by using a hi-volume air sampler) and an assumed average particle deposition velocity of 0.5 cm sec-1. Our results show that the measured and modeled fluxes are quite similar at both sites. This suggests that the deposition velocity of 0.5 cm sec-1 is a very good estimate in calculating the deposition fluxes when the actual particle size distribution cannot be measured or is not available.
34 PAHs were analyzed, including phenanthrene (chosen for its high atmospheric concentrations), pyrene (chosen for its health-related nature as an irritant), and benzo[a]pyrene (chosen due to its specific mention as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Primary Pollutant of concern due to its carcinogenic nature). The lower molecular weight PAHs were observed to have higher fluxes than the higher molecular weight PAHs. These results indicate that the influence of the total atmospheric concentration can be observed in the particle flux to the surrogate surface, even though the lower molecular weight compounds mostly are in the gas phase (i.e., not bound to aerosols). The relatively small fraction of particle-bound low molecular weight PAHs appear to significantly contribute to the total PAH mass flux. The PAH fluxes measured in this work are 2.4 and 2.7 times higher than the estimates from the NJADN data for the NB and LS sites, respectively. This suggests that the assumed deposition velocity of 0.5 cm sec-1 may not be too low.
Comparing the PAH profiles of NB and LS for the same sampling dates we find r2 values as high as 0.95, and P-values less than 10-10. This strongly indicates that both the sites have similar sources of PAHs, although the fluxes were generally higher at LS.
Future Activities:
The first year for the project was dedicated to: (1) the purchase and testing of the MIC B wet-only integrating samples and converting them to automated dry and wet collectors according to the design given above; and (2) the continued measurement of PCBs and PAHs in the ambient atmosphere to provide a continuous measurement framework for the dry deposition measurements. The continuous dry deposition measurements were initiated on August 15, 2001, at the NB and LS sites. In addition, we have designed several major field intensive campaigns where several other collection devices and strategies will be deployed, along with the continuous dry deposition collectors. The target compounds will be 80 PCB congeners, 34 PAH compounds, and 16 trace metals. The first chemical measurements now have been completed, and both the intensives and long-term samplings are in progress. An intensive sampling campaign is scheduled for Summer 2002.
Long-term sampling will continue through August 15, 2002. At this time the long-term sampling will discontinue, and all efforts will be focused on completion of laboratory analysis. This will continue to completion by the proposed "no cost extension" revised date of July 31, 2003.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Northeast, Atlantic coast, environmental chemistry, chemicals, toxics, particulates, atmosphere, chemical transport, estuary., Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, Water, Geographic Area, Environmental Chemistry, HAPS, State, Air Deposition, Environmental Monitoring, Mid-Atlantic, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Great Lakes, EPA Region, dry deposition studies, particle size, particulates, receptor accumulation rates, estuaries, PCBs, industrial emissions, Hudson River Estuary, toxic metals, New Jersey (NJ), gaseous organic compound, meterology, Lake Michigan, Region 2, atmospheric deposition, coastal ecosytems, persistant organic pollutantsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.