Science and Research, Division of

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10929/91

The role of the Division of Science and Research is to provide the department with, and access to, expertise and information that supports its technical and policy needs. In addition, the office performs research to meet the information and problem-solving needs, identify and understand emerging issues that require the department’s attention and to advocate/integrate the multi-disciplinary perspective into the department’s identification, analysis and resolution of environmental issues.

Previous names include the Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, the Office of Science, and the Division of Science, Research and Technology.

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

Air Toxics Analysis in New Jersey: Ambient Data Review and Model Validation: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2013-05) Biton, Leiran; Miller, Paul; Polissar, Alexander; Aucott, Michael
The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) completed a project to better characterize air toxics levels in the atmosphere and evaluate air quality models for use in assessing policies to reduce levels of air toxics. The goal of the project was to provide a comprehensive assessment of air toxics in New Jersey based on three primary tasks: (1) statistical analyses of ambient air toxics data in New Jersey; (2) comparisons between existing ambient data, air quality modeling results, and emission inventories; and (3) evaluation of an updated model for use with air toxics. Ambient monitoring air toxics data in New Jersey and surrounding states were analyzed to determine the levels for air toxics in and around New Jersey.
Ambient elemental, reactive gaseous and particle-bound mercury concentrations in New Jersey, U.S : measurements and associations with wind direction: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2011-09) Aucott, Michael; Caldarelli, Adriana; Zsolway, Rudolph; Pietarinen, Charles; England, Randy
Two and a half years of ambient concentrations of elemental mercury, reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particle-bound mercury were collected at measurement sites at Elizabeth, NJ and New Brunswick, NJ with Tekran sampling units in order to gather information on ambient atmospheric mercury levels, to determine whether these levels could be associated with known sources, and to develop a method to analyze these data. The data were processed, summarized, and evaluated from a variety of perspectives. Data quality control and quality assurance procedures are described. Wind direction and wind speed data were also collected. Significant temporal variations in concentrations of all three species were observed. Some significant directional variations were also seen. The sporadic nature of many of the temporal variations is consistent with and could reflect highly variable emission patterns from anthropogenic mercury sources. Overall mean concentrations of all species were determined. These were, for Hg0 , Hgp, and RGM respectively: 2.25 ± 0.04 nanograms per cubic meter (ng/m3 ), 8.21 ± 0.39 picograms per cubic meter (pg/m3), and 8.93 ± 0.31 pg/m3 (arithmetic means and 95% confidence intervals) at Elizabeth, and 2.15 ± 0.02 ng/m3, 10.73 ± 0.45 pg/m3, and 6.04 ± 0.30 pg/m3 at New Brunswick. Mean concentrations were determined for 16 different sectors representing wind directions. The impact of one known large source is suggested by these data. Reasons for some directional variations are not apparent and suggest a need for further investigation.
Delineation of a Potential Gaseous Elemental Mercury Emissions Source in Northeastern New Jersey: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2013-05) Reinfelder, John R.; Wallace, William; Aucott, Michael; Polissar, Alexander
In order to assist in the identification of possible mercury (Hg) emission sources in northeastern New Jersey, this project was undertaken to delineate geographic areas in which these sources may be located. The objectives of this project were to measure gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations at a site on Staten Island, New York to the east of the putative emissions source and analyze these results with those obtained by the NJDEP at their air monitoring site (ELAB) in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Additional local measurements were to be obtained near possible emission sources. From September 30, 2011 to September 3, 2012, GEM data were collected for more than 200 days at the Staten Island site. Together with wind speed and direction data from the NOAA Bergen Point West Reach naval observatory station these measurements were analyzed and transport trajectories of GEM in the region were determined. GEM concentration and wind direction data from the ELAB site for the same period of time were also analyzed. Local measurements of GEM in the area were limited by access to appropriate sites and difficulties maintaining stable calibration of the portable Hg analyzer. Directional analysis of the number frequency and concentration-weighted distributions of GEM peaks with concentrations >4 ng m-3 at the ELAB site revealed a single source located to the south of the sampling site (bearing 173.4°). Similar analysis of GEM results for the Staten Island site revealed two possible sources, one to the west (bearing 280.5°) and a second to the southwest (bearing 213.8°). The intersections of the two Staten Island transport trajectories with the ELAM trajectory delineate two possible GEM source areas. The first is centered in Rossville, NY on Staten Island (40.5514 N, 74.1947 W) and the second near Pralls Island in the Arthur Kill along the eastern border of Linden, NJ (40.6119 N, 74.2039 W). Temporal analysis of GEM peaks for the three source directions indicates that the eastern Linden source may contribute more GEM to elevated measurements recorded in Elizabeth than the Rossville source.
EPA's Proposed MACT Floor Standards for Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Utility Units: A Statistical and Analytical Assessment : A White Paper
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2004-07) Aucott, Michael; Korn, Leo
Estimated Quantities and Trends of Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in US Municipal Solid Waste Based on Analysis of Incinerator Ash: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2009-12) Aucott, Michael; Namboodiripad, Ambika; Caldarelli, Adriana; Frank, Kenneth; Gross, Herbert
Heavy metals are present in a variety of products and can be released during product life cycles. The concentration of metals in municipal solid waste (MSW) reflects the amount of metals in products and is directly related to the amount of metals transferred to disposal sites. Measured monthly mean concentrations of cadmium, lead, and mercury in the ash from May 1995 through October 2007 at the Essex County, NJ incinerator and from May 2004 through November 2007 at the Warren County, NJ incinerator were used, along with air emissions data for mercury, to estimate the content of these metals in MSW. Estimated mean concentration and 95% confidence limits for cadmium in MSW at the Essex and Warren facilities, respectively, were17.4±0.1 and 10.1±1.2 ppm. For lead, the corresponding values were 408±41 and 239±42 ppm, and for mercury, they were 2.6±0.2 and 0.9±0.2 ppm. A trend of increasing cadmium concentrations was found at both facilities. No change vs. time was observed in lead concentrations. Mercury concentration was found to be decreasing over time at the Essex facility.
Investigation of release, fate and transport of lead from motor vehicle wheel weights: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2011-06) Aucott, Michael; Caldarelli, Adriana
Lead is a well-known pollutant with documented toxicity. Lead-containing weights used to balance motor vehicle wheels are regularly lost from vehicles and enter the environment where they are ground into small particles by traffic, thus releasing small particles of lead to the environment and potentially contributing significantly to human exposures. The purpose of this study was to measure the quantity and to assess the form and fate of lead that enters the environment from wheel weights, and to estimate the exposure potential that this lead might represent as compared with other measured and estimated inputs of lead to the environment. This study found that approximately 12 tons per year of lead in the form of wheel weights are deposited on New Jersey roadways, but that only approximately 40 kg of this enters the environment in the form of small particles that are likely to result from the abrasion and grinding action of traffic. This study indicates that, relative to other sources, the amount of lead dispersed in the form of small particles to the environment from wheel weights is small. Further, the quantity of lead released via wheel weights appears likely to decline because of state-level legislation, voluntary phase-outs by manufacturers, and new trends in wheel technology.
New Jersey Atmospheric Deposition Network: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2005-04) Reinfelder, John R.; Totten, Lisa A.; Eisenreich, Steven J.; Aucott, Michael
Atmospheric deposition is an important source of a number of contaminants to the environment. The New Jersey Atmospheric Deposition Network (NJADN) was a collaborative research and monitoring effort between Rutgers University and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The objectives of the project were to quantify current concentrations and deposition fluxes of targeted contaminants and assess their spatial and seasonal trends, and, to the extent possible, to determine the importance of atmospheric deposition relative to other inputs. Contaminants measured included PCBs, PAHs, certain organochlorine pesticides, heavy metals, nutrients, and organic and elemental carbon particles. NJADN results have established baseline levels of the organic contaminants in the gas, particle, and precipitation phases and of the metals, nutrients, and organic and elemental carbon in the particle and precipitation phase. These baseline levels will be useful in the evaluation of long-term trends and determining the effectiveness of pollution control efforts.
Release of Mercury From Broken Fluorescent Bulbs: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2004-02) Aucott, Michael; McLinden, Michael; Winka, Michael
Mercury is a persistent, bioaccumulative toxin. The primary human exposure is from ingestion of fish contaminated with methyl mercury. However, exposures to elemental mercury vapor and mercury compounds via inhalation and dermal contact may also occur. Like many products, fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. Estimates of the amount of this mercury released when the bulbs are broken, which generally happens when the bulbs are discarded, have varied widely. A new method was developed to measure mercury released from broken bulbs. It was found that between 17% and 40% of the mercury in broken low-mercury fluorescent bulbs is released to the air during the two-week period immediately following breakage, with higher temperatures contributing to higher release rates. One-third of the mercury release occurs during the first 8 hours after breakage. Many fluorescent bulbs contain more mercury than the low-mercury bulbs tested; a typical bulb discarded in 2003 might release between 3 and 8 mg of elemental mercury vapors over two weeks. Since about 620 million fluorescent bulbs are discarded yearly in the U.S., discarded bulbs could release approximately 2 to 4 tons of mercury per year in the U.S. Airborne levels of mercury in the vicinity of recently broken bulbs could exceed occupational exposure limits.
Removal of Mercury Switches from Surplus New Jersey State Motor Vehicles: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2006-12) Aucott, Michael
This project assessed two potential ways to maximize the removal of mercury-containing switches from vehicles owned and operated by the State of New Jersey. Considered were 1) replacement of mercury switches with non-mercury switches while vehicles were in service, and 2) removing these switches at the time the vehicles are retired from State service. It was determined that option 2) was more feasible. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Treasury entered into a Memorandum of Understanding whereby Department of Treasury agreed to remove switches which would be picked up periodically by DEP and sent to be recycled. As of October, 2006, nearly 600 switches had been removed, representing approximately 1.5 pounds of mercury.

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