TitleDiffusive flux of PAHs across sediment-water and water-air interfaces at urban superfund sites.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsD Minick J, Anderson KA
JournalEnviron Toxicol Chem
Volume36
Issue9
Pagination2281-2289
Date Published2017 09
ISSN1552-8618
Air, Cities, Geologic Sediments, Hazardous Waste Sites, Oregon, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Rivers, Water, Water Pollutants, Chemical

Superfund sites may be a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the surrounding environment. These sites can also act as PAH sinks from present-day anthropogenic activities, especially in urban locations. Understanding PAH transport across environmental compartments helps to define the relative contributions of these sources and is therefore important for informing remedial and management decisions. In the present study, paired passive samplers were co-deployed at sediment-water and water-air interfaces within the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and the McCormick and Baxter Superfund Site. These sites, located along the Willamette River (Portland, OR, USA), have PAH contamination from both legacy and modern sources. Diffusive flux calculations indicate that the Willamette River acts predominantly as a sink for low molecular weight PAHs from both the sediment and the air. The sediment was also predominantly a source of 4- and 5-ring PAHs to the river, and the river was a source of these same PAHs to the air, indicating that legacy pollution may be contributing to PAH exposure for residents of the Portland urban center. At the remediated McCormick and Baxter Superfund Site, flux measurements highlight locations within the sand and rock sediment cap where contaminant breakthrough is occurring. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2281-2289. © 2017 SETAC.

10.1002/etc.3785
Alternate JournalEnviron. Toxicol. Chem.
PubMed ID28262984
PubMed Central IDPMC6048954
Grant ListP42 ES016465 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
T32 ES007060 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
Projects Reference: 
Superfund