Nature, distribution, and extent of PCB contamination seen in extant molluscs of the Hudson River estuary, New York.
Item
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Title
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Nature, distribution, and extent of PCB contamination seen in extant molluscs of the Hudson River estuary, New York.
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Identifier
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AAI3246925
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identifier
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3246925
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Creator
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Feinberg, Paul M.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Frederick C. Shaw
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Date
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2006
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Environmental Sciences | Geochemistry | Biogeochemistry | Engineering, Environmental
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Abstract
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With the battle in full force between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and General Electric (GE), the question naturally asserted itself of whether the downstream presence of PCBs could be linked to the two GE plants in Hudson Falls, NY and Fort Edward, NY. It was decided that a sedentary, bottom sediment dwelling organism might be a good indicator of the fate of the upstream PCBs.;A sampling program was developed in order to determine whether the PCBs known to have been present in the operations of the two plants upriver, could be detected in bivalve molluscs in the lower 66 kilometers of the Hudson River Estuary. A roughly one kilometer sampling grid was used to collect live bivalve molluscs. A total of 30 live specimens were collected from the 98 Peterson grab samples of the Hudson River bottom sediments from each of the sampling stations along the various transects throughout the study area. These specimens were then analyzed for PCBs.;Of the 98 locations sampled, eight concentrations above the limit of detection were revealed in seven of them. These included locations T22A, T22C, T5C, T9A, T11B, T15C and T19D. In all but one case, the PCBs detected were found to be Aroclor 1254. The PCB concentrations for Aroclor 1254 typically are considered linked to the upriver contamination. Aroclor 1248 was found only in the live sample tissue taken from location T9A. The presence of PCB type 1248 in this location is viewed as potentially deriving from either a lower river source or possibly as a product of PCB weathering of the contaminated sediments linked to GE operations.;In terms of water quality, the concentrations in the bivalves exceed both federal USEPA and New York State standards for fish consumption. The concentrations found in clams range from 0.056microg/L to 840microg/L. In terms of recommended fish consumption, the federal limit prescribed by the USEPA of no more than one meal per month containing 0.023 to 0.047 ppm is exceeded in six locations, T11B (840microg/L), T15C (770microg/L), T19D (340microg/L), T22C (200microg/L), T5C(150microg/L), and T22A (84microg/L).;Statistical regressions performed for water quality indicators (salinity, dissolved oxygen, percent oxygen saturation, pH, and eH) measured at the time of the grab sampling demonstrated an inability to predict levels of PCB. This inability to predict PCB levels was also the case with respect to individual trace metal concentrations reported for each of the sampling locations in the work done by Ashkan (2000). In the case of latitude however, a statistical "trend" was found showing that for each degree of increasing latitude, there was an expected increase of 647microg/L in PCB concentration.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
