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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Browsing Science and Research, Division of by Subject "Air - Pollution"

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    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.
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    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.
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    Response to Charge Question on Public Health Committee – Air Toxics
    (Trenton, N.J. : Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, 2013-09-30) New Jersey. Department of Environmental Protection. Science Advisory Board. Public Health Standing Committee