Browsing by Author "Lippincott, Lee"

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    The Characterization of Tentatively Identified Compounds (TICs) in Water Samples Collected from Public Water Systems in New Jersey: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2003-03) Murphy, Eileen; Buckley, Brian; Lippincott, Lee; Yang, Ill; Rosen, Bob
    This is a summary report of a detailed investigation in which the analysis of synthetic organic chemicals by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Liquid Chromatography (LC) was conducted on raw and finished water samples collected from public water supplies using ground water as a source of drinking water. All water systems sampled are known to be contaminated by volatile organic chemicals except for one (the “control” system). This work investigated the potential presence of non-volatile and semi-volatile organic chemicals in those water supplies. Five bottled waters were also sampled. Several generalizations can be made: 1) water serving systems impacted by identified hazardous waste sites have distinct and sometimes unique TICs associated with them; 2) TICs are generally low in concentration, most being estimated at a concentration below a part per billion (microgram per liter, mg/L); and 3) many organic chemicals reported as TICs were not actually in the water sampled but were found in the analysis due to sampling and/or laboratory contamination.
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    Damage Assessment Report on the Effects of Hurricane Sandy on the State of New Jersey's Natural Resources: Final Report
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2015-05) Bilinski, Joseph; Buchanan, Gary; Frizzera, Dorina; Hazen, Robert; Lippincott, Lee; Procopio, Nick; Ruppel, Bruce; Tucker, Terri; New Jersey. Department of Environmental Protection. Office of Science
    In coordination with efforts to restore coastal and lowland communities, and to rebuild New Jersey’s infrastructure following Hurricane Sandy, damage to specific natural resources was inventoried and rapidly assessed for degree of impact by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
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    Determination of Organic Compound Classes Using Research and Regulatory Analytical Techniques for the Demonstration Project: Public Water Systems (PWS) Groundwater Investigation at Merchantville/Pennsauken and Fair Lawn Water Treatment Facilities
    (Trenton, N.J. : Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, and Environmental Health, 2017-03-31) Lippincott, Lee; Buckley, Brian
    The objectives of this study were to; (1) Investigate how three different commercially available granular activated carbon media influenced the removal of synthetic organic compounds and natural (macromolecular) materials. (2) Identify adsorbent characteristics between these three carbon types that optimize the uptake of SOCs and NOMs, potentially demonstrating a full range of compound class coverage. (3) Provide the purveyors of these facilities with an assessment of the efficiency of GAC as a barrier technology for removal of a broad spectrum of trace organic contaminants and assess the potential life span of the filtration media.
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    Determination of Organic Compound Classes Using Research and Regulatory Analytical Techniques for the Demonstration Project: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2017-04) Lippincott, Lee; Buckley, Brian
    This research demonstrated the ability to track trace-level unregulated contaminants through the treatment train at two water treatment facilities that are within the capture zone of a hazardous waste plume. Sample collection initiated in April 2011 and sampling continued through 2014 at the Merchantville/Pennsauken Water Treatment Plant Marion Avenue Facility (MPW) in Camden County and the Fair Lawn Cadmus Avenue Facility in Bergen County. Each facility utilized air-stripping technology to remove regulated VOC contamination prior to implementation of GAC treatment. This research evaluated the removal/reduction efficiency of physical adsorption technologies to reduce the levels of trace organic compounds using three types of commercially available granular activated carbon (GAC). Monitoring the actual efficiency of the removal media, like granular activated carbon, does not routinely occur at low parts-per-trillion concentration levels. Typically, pilot or bench-scale column studies have focused on sorptive capacity with spiked chemicals at part-per-million concentrations rather than ambient level, (part-per-trillion), concentrations to determine removal efficiency. Often the media is evaluated at concentrations that are orders of magnitude higher than the levels in the water due to limitations of traditional measurement methods. Thus, the sorption efficiency, molecular diffusion into the GAC pore structure, and other physical sorption phenomena do not represent the trace organic matrix condition that the media is actually exposed to under normal operational conditions. Therefore, it was the objective of this study to measure the efficiency of the media at ambient parts per trillion levels. This research utilized both optimized regulatory analytical methodology in conjunction with state-of-the-art analytical research methods to determine the full scale activated carbon treatment removal efficiencies of unregulated contaminants in ground water. Although the three different carbon types evaluated were similar in performance, the data indicated that performance differences existed in the GAC material and were related to the polarity of the observed unregulated contaminants. The New Jersey Department of Health analytical method identified very low levels of unregulated nonpolar contaminants throughout the drinking water treatment train. The percentage of TICs removed to below detection limit as analyzed by the 525.2LL method for both systems represented a 91-99% reduction. On the other hand, the Rutgers EOHSI laboratory technique identified a select few, more-polar compounds, which passed through the treatment train to delivered drinking water. The percentage of TICs removed to below detection limit as analyzed by the Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) method for both systems represented a 72-85% reduction. Given the difference in preferential adsorption and removal by the GAC materials, none of the three carbon types can be used alone to remove the full suite of observed polar and nonpolar organic compounds
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    Identification of Perfluorinated Carboxylic Acids (PFCAs) in the Metedeconk River Watershed: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2016-02) Karl, Robert; Maggio, Joseph; Rouse, John; Louis, Judy; Lippincott, Lee; Atherholt, Tom; Procopio, Nicholas A.; Goodrow, Sandra M.
    In a 2009 statewide study of perfluoroalkyl compound (PFC) occurrence in public water supplies conducted by NJDEP, the concentration of the PFC compound perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was higher in a drinking water intake along the South Branch Metedeconk River in Ocean County than in the other raw surface water sources tested. The Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (BTMUA), which relies on the Metedeconk River as its primary source of water supply, subsequently initiated a PFC source track down study in collaboration with the NJDEP Division of Science, Research, and Environmental Health. The data collected from a series of sampling events show that low levels of various PFCs are present in the study area and likely originate from a number of sources. However, BTMUA documented a localized area of high-level PFC contamination along the South Branch Metedeconk River in Lakewood Township. A groundwater contamination plume emanating from an industrial park on the south side of the river is suspected to be the principle source of PFCs observed in the Metedeconk River and the BTMUA intake samples. Groundwater PFOA levels were found to be as high as 70,000 ng/L in this area. While various PFCs were detected in water samples throughout the study area, and particularly in groundwater samples, PFOA is the primary contaminant of concern with respect to South Branch Metedeconk River water quality and the BTMUA water supply.
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    Investigation of Levels of Perfluorinated Compounds in New Jersey Fish, Surface Water, and Sediment
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research, and Environmental Health, 2019-04-09) Goodrow, Sandra; Ruppel, Bruce; Lippincott, Lee; Post, Gloria B.
    Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are used in the manufacture of useful products that impart stain resistance, water resistance, heat resistance and other desirable properties. PFAS are also used in various Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) that are used in fire-fighting. These substances are in wide use today, found at industrial sites that use or manufacture them and at military bases, airports and other areas known for fire-fighting activities. A subset of PFAS, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), have fully fluorinated carbon chains as their backbone, and their extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds makes them very resistant to degradation. When released to the environment, PFCs persist indefinitely and can travel distances from their source in surface water, groundwater, or in the atmosphere. PFAS are considered “emerging contaminants” because additional information on their presence and toxicity to ecosystems and humans continues to become available. The Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health (DSREH) performed an initial assessment of 13 PFAS, all of which are perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), at 11 waterways across the state. Fourteen surface water and sediment samples and 94 fish tissue samples were collected at sites along these waterways. The sites were selected based on their proximity to potential sources of PFAS and their likelihood of being used for recreational and fishing purposes. The sampling sites are located within Passaic, Middlesex, Ocean, Burlington, Gloucester, and Salem Counties.
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    PCB TMDLs, Pollution Minimization Plans and Source Trackdown in Camden City: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2008-08) Belton, Thomas; Botts, John; Lippincott, Lee; Stevenson, Edward
    A PCB Pilot Source trackdown study was performed in the sewer collection system of the Camden County Municipal Utility Authority (CCMUA) as part of a PCB TMDL. The goals were to evaluate the most appropriate sampling and analytical techniques for tracking down PCB contamination to the MUA collection system and to identify potential upland sources. Innovative field and analytical methods were evaluated including the use of PCB analytical Method 1668a to attain high sensitivity and low detection limits; the quantitation of over 124 separate PCB congeners as a mean to identify unique source signatures through pattern recognition; the use of passive in-situ continuous extraction sampler (PISCES) for sample integration over protracted time periods (14 days); and the use of electronic data collection systems interfaced with a geographic information system (GIS). PCBs were found at all sewer locations (i.e., both urban and suburban) and in all sampling media potentially from varied sources (i.e., as indicated by differences in PCB congener profiles between waste streams). PCBs were quantifiable in both 24-hour composites with a mean of 189 ng/l (Range: 33 ng/l to 784 ng/l) and grab samples with a mean of 41 ng/l (Range: 20 ng/l to 82 ng/l). Geographic analysis of sewer results indicated a concentration of potential PCB sources in the industrialized south-central area of Camden. We further evaluated desktop trackdown methods and innovative field methods using field methods (i.e., immunoassays e.g., SDI/ELISA) known to be quick, inexpensive and accurate; and approved by NJDEP’s Site Remediation Program for site screening. The project was also designed to assist MUAs with CSOs in performing, TMDL required, PCB Pollution Minimization Plans (PMPs) through documentation of PCBs on city streets with a capacity to erode into storm drains, thereby localizing proximity of sources in sewersheds and at specific city blocks and for certain industry types. An addition goal was to explore how regulatory programs could inform the PMP process, since many PCB sources leading to storm drains could, potentially, not be directly regulated by a MUAs (e.g., Hazmat sites, NPS permitted facilities, orphan contaminated sites). Street soil results show PCBs on streets in front of most facilities with a mean of 0.6 ug/g - ppm (Range: 0.05 to 5.16 ug/g).Confirmatory analysis on select soil samples using HRGC/HRMS analysis (Method 1668A), confirmed relative accuracy of using ELISA for source screening. Decreasing mean PCB concentration in street soils near source categories (using ELISA) were: 1. HazMat (known contaminated sites); 2. metal reclamation (junkyards, shredders, smelters; 3. gas pipelines; 4. transportation; 5. drum cleaning; 6. manufacturing; 7. paper-pulping; 8. waste management; 9. electrical transmission; 10. aggregate processing (concrete); and 11. landfills. Overlapping management/policy issues with PMPs include analytical methods, stormwater management; CSOs permits; residuals (sludge); soil remediation standards; Brownfield Assessments; and Environmental Justice.
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    Pollution minimization plans and PCB source trackdown in Camden City
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2008-08) Belton, Thomas; Lippincott, Lee; Stevenson, Edward; Bolts, John
    A PCB source trackdown study was performed in Camden, New Jersey using the sewer collection system of a municipal utility authority (MUA). Sampling and analytical techniques were developed to identify PCB sources using innovative desktop, field and analytical methods including high resolution gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy; the quantitation of 124 separate PCB congeners for source signatures; the use of passive in-situ continuous extraction samplers (PISCES); and the use of electronic data interfaced with a GIS system to geographically isolate potential sources. In addition, PCB immunoassay analyses (ELISA) of street soils were carried out near storm drains in front of suspected facilities. These source identification methods were developed to support Pollution Minimization Plans (PMP), which are permit requirements for discharger facilities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware as part of the Delaware Estuary PCB-TMDL. The PMP rules require dischargers to actively seek out, and reduce, PCBs on their facilities footprint which might get into the MUA collection system. This can be problematic, however, for a county-wide MUA with hundreds of miles of pipes and numerous undefined point and non-point sources (i.e., Camden City is a combined sewer outfall (CSO) area where storm run-off can collect PCBs and other contaminants then mix with sewerage in pipes prior to treatment).