Research Project Summaries

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The research project summary is a 3-5 page document providing a brief, general overview of the project.

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Browsing Research Project Summaries by Date "2003-02"

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    Assessment of Historical and Current Trends in Mercury Deposition to New Jersey Aquatic Systems through Analysis of Sediment/Soil Cores: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2003-02) Kroenke, Amy E.; Shuster, Edward L.; Bopp, Richard F.; Downes Gastrich, Mary
    Atmospheric deposition is an important source of mercury to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and has global, regional, and local components. Deposition of mercury to waterbodies in New Jersey has resulted in elevated levels of mercury in fish across the state. Potentially significant sources of mercury to waterbodies in New Jersey include coal-burning power plants, municipal solid waste incineration, and metal smelting. Analysis of dated sediment cores has been a most useful tool for documenting historical changes in atmospheric mercury fluxes to waterbodies. This is the first study to analyze sediment cores to estimate the historic pattern of mercury to New Jersey aquatic systems. The objectives were to identify and characterize the extent of atmospheric mercury deposition to New Jersey aquatic systems and to identify indications of local sources of mercury contribution to these systems. Sediment core samples were taken from five lakes and one coastal marsh, dated based on radionuclide analyses, and analyzed for total mercury. The results indicated that mercury fluxes have generally decreased since an historic high rate in the late 1940s. Mercury fluxes were, however, still significantly elevated at most sites compared with estimates of mercury fluxes in remote areas in North America receiving background mercury deposition. However, the results in NJ lakes are comparable to recent mercury fluxes to the Great Lakes suggesting a large-scale regional influence. One site, Woodcliff Lake in northeastern NJ, had particularly elevated fluxes of mercury similar to Central Park Lake, NY and future efforts will be directed to determine if the mercury deposition to these water bodies reflects a more localized area of elevated mercury deposition, and if so, to provide information on its likely sources.
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    Occurrence, Distribution, and Concentration of Pharmaceuticals and Other Organic Wastewater-Related Compounds in New Jersey’s Surface-Water Supplies: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2003-02) Lippincott, R. Lee; Stackelberg, Paul
    The Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, which is part of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, directs states to develop sampling plans to identify contaminants of emerging concern that may merit future regulatory consideration as part of the USEPA’s Candidate Contaminant List (CCL) process. Many of the traditional analytical methodologies used for regulatory compliance, however, lack the sensitivity and selectivity needed to detect organic contaminants of anthropogenic origin. Recently, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed analytical methods for the determination of more than 95 contaminants typically found in domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastewaters. Examples of these unregulated contaminants include pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, hormones, personal care products, and various industrial and commercial products. These newly developed analytical methods have been used by the USGS in cooperation with the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to evaluate the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern in New Jersey’s streams and drinking water supplies. Results from this study indicate that trace level organic contaminants that represent a broad suite of uses and origins can enter and persist in ambient waters and subsequently occur in finished drinking water supplies. This study provides information that will be useful for designing future monitoring efforts and for setting research and regulatory priorities.