USGS - science for a changing world

South Dakota Water Science Center

orange dotHome orange dotScience Topics orange dotOur Cooperators orange dotPublications orange dotGIS/Geospatial Resources orange dotNewsroom orange dotOutreach orange dotContact

DATA CENTER

INFORMATION CENTER

USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

There is a USGS Water Science Center office in each State. Washington Oregon California Idaho Nevada Montana Wyoming Utah Colorado Arizona New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Texas Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Wisconsin Illinois Mississippi Michigan Indiana Ohio Kentucky Tennessee Alabama Pennsylvania West Virginia Georgia Florida Caribbean Alaska Hawaii New York Vermont New Hampshire Maine Massachusetts South Carolina North Carolina Rhode Island Virginia Connecticut New Jersey Maryland-Delaware-D.C.

Semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in streambed sediments, United States, 1992-95

Thomas J. Lopes, and E.T. Furlong

U.S. Geological Survey, 1608 Mountain View Rd., Rapid City, SD 57702
Phone (605) 355-4560 ext. 240, Telecopier (605) 355-4523, tjlopes@usgs.gov

As part of the National Water-Quality Assesment (NAWQA) program, 65 semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) were measured in bed sediment samples collected from streams across the United States between 1992-95. Two objectives of NAWQA are to determine the occurrence and distribution of contaminants and factors related to their occurrence. The SVOCs includes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), azaarenes, phthalates, phenols, and chlorinated compounds. At each site, 5 to 10 samples were collected from depositional zones in a 100-m reach of a stream, composited, and then sieved to less than 2 mm using a stainless steel sieve. Only the surficial 2 to 3 cm of bed sediment were sampled to characterize recently deposited sediments. Forty-one SVOCs, were detected in more than 5 percent of samples, and 10 of these were detected in more than 50 percent of samples. PAHs, phthalates, azaarenes, and phenols were the most frequently detected SVOCs. Chlorinated, nitro, and nitroso compounds were detected in less than 5 percent of samples. Concentrations of PAHs, azaarenes, and phthalates were highest in the northeastern United States, and their concentrations were about 10 times greater in urban drainage basins compared to agricultural, reference, and integrator basins. SVOCs had significant (α =0.05) nonparametric correlations with physical/chemical properties, toxic releases to air, population density, and percentage of urban land use surrounding sample sites. Combustion of fossil fuels and materials commonly used and manufactured in urban and industrial regions are likely sources for PAHs, azaarenes, and phthalates. In contrast, concentrations of phenols were not different among land uses and were poorly correlated with site characteristics, suggesting either widespead use, natural sources, or both.

Presented:

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pa.,

November 14-18, 1999.

USGS Home Water Climate Change Core Science Ecosystems Energy&Env. Health Hazards

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://sd.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pubs/abstracts/lopes/setac-abst.html
Page Contact Information: Webmaster
Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 09-Jan-2013 10:14:31 EST