Measurements of PCB fluxes into the atmosphere from a site receiving stabilized dredged material

R. J. Miskewitz, R. I. Hires, T. L. Su, G. P. Korfiatis, M. Sidhoum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 50 ha known contaminated site in Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.A. is permitted to receive up to 3 × 106 m3 of sediment dredged from navigation channels in the New York/New Jersey Harbor. Much of the sediment is expected to contain low to moderate concentrations of industrial and agricultural chemicals, including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). The dredged material brought to the site is stabilized with cement and then placed as a capping and grading layer. The flux of PCBs from drying stabilized dredged material has been estimated from measurements of PCB air concentrations at two heights above the ground along with micrometeorological observations. A statistically significant gradient in PCB concentrations has been consistently measured in the first 3 m above the ground. Observed PCB fluxes were highest over freshly placed stabilized dredged sediment and decreased as it cured. The highest flux observed in this study was 7214 ng/m2/h, but during subsequent sampling intervals at the same site, the flux estimates decreased by an order of magnitude over a 5-day interval.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)45-54
Number of pages10
JournalWater, Air, and Soil Pollution: Focus
Volume4
Issue number4-5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2004

Keywords

  • Contaminated dredged material
  • Micrometeorology
  • PCB air sampling
  • PCB volatilization fluxes
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls

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