Utility poles, preservatives and soil contamination.
Item
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Title
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Utility poles, preservatives and soil contamination.
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Identifier
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AAI9969689
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identifier
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9969689
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Creator
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Gargiulo, Paul Charles.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Victor Goldsmith
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Date
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2000
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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 | Engineering, Environmental
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Abstract
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To determine the extent of preservative leaching from utility poles, soil was collected from within six feet of treated utility poles at depths ranging from the surface to three feet. The soil was collected from 15 utility pole sites located in the southwestern portion of Long Island, New York. Eight were located in soil composed of silty loam and seven were located in sandy beach soil. The roadside locations consisted of six pentachlorophenol (PCP) and two creosote treated poles. The beach locations consisted of four PCP and three creosote treated poles. The soil samples were analyzed for PCP, creosote, dioxins and furans. Soil samples were collected from these locations to determine the capability of each soil type to retain preservative. Poles visibly leaching preservative were avoided as not to bias the results of this dissertation.;Analyses revealed that PCP contamination was found within the first three inches of the pole and diminished to background levels at two feet, for all depths sampled. The PCP surface soil sample within three inches of the pole was slightly above the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) soil cleanup standard indicating the need to be handled and disposed of as a hazardous waste. Total dioxins and furans were detected in the soil within the first six feet of PCP treated poles, but lacked any correlation with distance or depth from the pole. Creosote was detected within the first three inches of the pole, diminishing to background levels at two feet from the pole, for all depths sampled. All measured dioxin, furan and creosote concentrations were below the US EPA soil cleanup levels. The roadside silty loam soils displayed significantly better retention properties for PCP, creosote, dioxins and furans than the more porous sandy soils.;A comparison between wood and fiberglass reinforced composite poles was performed to review the efficacy of alternate pole materials, using the cumulative effect on health and the environmental as well as economic considerations. Fiberglass poles were chosen from the non-wood pole category for their strength and handling properties as well as the absence of preservatives. Fiberglass is a highly desirable alternative to wood poles to protect the environment, and reduce the lifecycle cost of utility poles.
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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.
