Grantee Research Project Results
Dynamic Exchange of Volatile Species and Semivolatile Organic Contaminants Across the Air-Water Interface of the Chesapeake Bay
EPA Grant Number: R825245Title: Dynamic Exchange of Volatile Species and Semivolatile Organic Contaminants Across the Air-Water Interface of the Chesapeake Bay
Investigators:
Institution: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Current Institution: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science , Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1999
Project Amount: $449,989
RFA: Air Quality (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air
Description:
Atmospheric deposition is an important source of organic contaminants and mercury to surface waters, including the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake Bay. Gas exchange of volatile pollutants across the air-water interface is an important but poorly understood component of atmospheric deposition, especially near coastal urban areas. For predictive models of the fate and transport of organic contaminants and mercury in the Chesapeake Bay to be accurate, the inputs of these pollutants must be quantified. However, the flux in not unidirectional as both semivolatile organics and Hg, as HgO, can be lost from the water to the atmosphere via gas exchange, or vice versa. Thus, quantifying only the depositional flux is insufficient. This field study will examine the short-term and long-term variability of gas exchange of mercury and semivolatile organic contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay. The overall field strategy involves both long-term collections of organic contaminants and Hg species in the air and in the water at a rural (Solomons, MD) and an urban (Baltimore) site. These collections will allow the seasonal variability to be ascertained. Four intensive 5-day studies at different times of the year will allow assessment of the extent of short-term variability in the gas exchange fluxes at sites in the vicinity of Baltimore. This study will quantify exchange rates of semivolatile organic contaminants and Hg species and provide important information on the factors influencing the rate of exchange at the air-water interface. The results of this study will allow predictions of the exchange of these contaminants between the water and the atmosphere and of the net input of these contaminants to the regions of the Chesapeake Bay impacted by a direct urban atmospheric loadings.Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 27 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 10 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
air, ambient air, atmosphere, watersheds, metals, heavy metals, mercury, environmental chemistry, Chesapeake Bay, Great Water, Maryland, MD, Region 3., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Geographic Area, Water, Air Deposition, Mercury, State, Chemistry, Watersheds, Environmental Chemistry, Hydrology, air toxics, Water & Watershed, gas exchange, heavy metals, predictive model, emissions, air-water interface, organic contaminants, aquatic, atmospheric deposition, Chesapeake Bay, semivolatile organic contaminants, coastal, fate and transport, mercury vapor, aquatic ecosystems, surface water, Maryland (MD), exposure and effects, atmospheric processesProgress and Final Reports:
The 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.