Scavenging of Chromium and Cadmium by Aquifer Material — South Farmingdale‐Massapequa Area, Long Island, New York^a

Abstract

A plume of ground water enriched by liquid metal‐plating effluent has formed downgradient from an industrial park in southeast Nassau County, New York. Discharges from the plant to the shallow aquifer began in the 1940's and continue to the present. Core samples of aquifer material from the plume were analyzed by oxalate extraction and dithionite‐citrate‐bicarbonate (DCB) extraction methods for the presence of chromium and cadmium. Results of the extraction indicate that for 1 kilogram of soil, the median concentrations of extracted chromium and cadmium in aquifer material are 7.5 and 1.1 milligrams, respectively, and the maximum concentrations are 19 and 2.3 milligrams, respectively.

Processes affecting the remediation of chromium-contaminated sites.

“…For example, 27 Superfund sites for which Records of Decision had been signed before 1987 report chromium as being a potential problem (9). One of most widely known cases of groundwater contamination by chromium is the Nassau County site on Long Island, New York (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). The source of the chromium contamination was a recharge basin used for the disposal of solutions from an aircraft plant.…”

Processes Affecting the Remediation of Chromium-Contaminated Sites

“…For example, 27 Superfund sites for which Records of Decision had been signed before 1987 report chromium as being a potential problem (9). One of most widely known cases of groundwater contamination by chromium is the Nassau County site on Long Island, New York (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). The source of the chromium contamination was a recharge basin used for the disposal of solutions from an aircraft plant.…”

A demonstration of the applicability of implementing the enhanced Remedial Action Priority System (RAPS) for environmental releases

“…e. , water table) since the early 1940s . The resulting plume of altered groundwater with elevated chromium and cadmium levels extended approximately 1300 m (4265 ft) downgradient from the disposal basins and discharged into nearby Massapequa Creek (Ku et al . 1978 note that the alteration of the quality of the groundwater in the South Farmingdale-Massapequa area was first discovered in 1942 when elevated levels of chromium were detected (Davids and Lieber 1951, ( a) This section is based on Codell et al .…”

“…1978 note that the alteration of the quality of the groundwater in the South Farmingdale-Massapequa area was first discovered in 1942 when elevated levels of chromium were detected (Davids and Lieber 1951, ( a) This section is based on Codell et al . (1982}, Perlmutter and Lieber (1970}, Pinder (1973}, Lieber et al (1964, Ku et al (1978), and Anderson (1979) . after Ku et al 1978) .…”

“…(1982}, Perlmutter and Lieber (1970}, Pinder (1973}, Lieber et al (1964, Ku et al (1978), and Anderson (1979) . after Ku et al 1978) . The contamination was attributed to the discharge of liquid industrial plating wastes into the disposal basins at the industrial park and subsequent leaching into the upper glacial aquifer .…”