PCB Contamination in Molluscs of the Hudson River Estuary, NY, USA

A sampling program was developed to determine
whether the PCBs known to have been present in the
operations of the two GE plants located upriver in
the Hudson River Estuary were still detectable
after 20 years. Bivalve molluscs were collected
from 98 Peterson grab samples and subsequently
analyzed for PCBs. In all but one case, the PCBs
detected were found to be Aroclor 1254, that which
is typically considered to be linked to the upsteam
GE contamination. Concentrations were discovered in
excess of both federal USEPA levels and New York
State standards for fish consumption. The
concentrations found in the clams sampled range from
0.056 µg/L to 840 µg/L. Statistical regressions
were performed for the water quality indicators of
salinity, dissolved oxygen, percent oxygen
saturation, pH, and eH, all of which were measured
at the time of sampling. Other variables including
trace metals and latitude were also considered in
the analysis in order to determine any predictive
indicators of high concentrations of PCBs.

Autorentext

Dr. Feinberg is an adjunct Assistant Professor of Geology at Hunter College, CUNY. He earned his doctorate in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 2006. His BA and MA degrees are in Geology, both from Boston University. He has worked more than 10 years as an environmental geologist.

Klappentext

A sampling program was developed to determine whether the PCBs known to have been present in the operations of the two GE plants located upriver in the Hudson River Estuary were still detectable after 20 years. Bivalve molluscs were collected from 98 Peterson grab samples and subsequently analyzed for PCBs. In all but one case, the PCBs detected were found to be Aroclor 1254, that which is typically considered to be linked to the upsteam GE contamination. Concentrations were discovered in excess of both federal USEPA levels and New York State standards for fish consumption. The concentrations found in the clams sampled range from 0.056 µg/L to 840 µg/L. Statistical regressions were performed for the water quality indicators of salinity, dissolved oxygen, percent oxygen saturation, pH, and eH, all of which were measured at the time of sampling. Other variables including trace metals and latitude were also considered in the analysis in order to determine any predictive indicators of high concentrations of PCBs.