Tidal River Sediments in the Washington, D. C. Area. I. Distribution and Sources of Trace Metals

Velinsky, David J.; Wade, Terry L.; Schlekat, Christian E.; McGee, Beth; Presley, B.J.

doi:10.2307/1352665

Cited by 40 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Hornberger et al, 1999); or (ii) surface-sediment regional databases that provide metal concentration values for uncontaminated sediments (e.g. Schiff & Weisberg, 1999;Velinsky et al, 1994;Windom et al, 1989). Since there are no previous data available about natural (i.e., without anthropogenic influence) trace metal concentrations in estuarine sediments in this region, we were restricted to our own data set.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Normalisation of metal contents in sediments to a reference element not associated with anthropogenic influence is a convenient approach to determine the degree of sediment contamination. Elements such as aluminium (Al) (Summers, Wade, Engle, & Malaeb, 1996;Windom et al, 1989), lithium (Li) (Loring, 1990) and iron (Fe) (Schiff & Weisberg, 1999;Velinsky, Wade, Schlekat, McGee, & Presley, 1994), have been previously used.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial and seasonal variations of the macrobenthic community and metal contamination in the Douro estuary (Portugal)

Mucha

Vasconcelos

Bordalo

2005

Marine Environmental Research

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and seasonal variations of the macrobenthic community and metal contamination in the Douro estuary (Portugal)

Mucha

Vasconcelos

Bordalo

2005

Marine Environmental Research

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“…The Washington Channel is about 122 meters wide and the depth varies from 1 meter to 8 meters. [10] The observed fecal coliform concentrations in both of the Tidal Basin and Washington Channel from 1992 to 1998 are shown in Washington Channel. After reviewing the available data, the fecal coliform in the year of 1998 was modeled.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 93%

Three-Dimensional Modeling of Fecal Coliform in the Tidal Basin and Washington Channel, Washington, DC

Bai

Lung

2006

Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A

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Fecal coliform are widely used as bacterial indicator in the United States and around the world. Fecal coliform impaired water is highly possible to be polluted by pathogenic bacteria. The Tidal Basin and Washington Channel in Washington, DC are on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) list due to the high fecal coliform level. To support TMDL development, a three-dimensional numerical model of fecal coliform was developed using the EFDC framework. The model calculates the transport of fecal coliform under the influences of flap gate operations and tidal elevation. The original EFDC code was modified to calculate the die-off of fecal coliform under the impact of temperature and solar radiation intensity. The watershed contribution is expressed as storm water inflow and the load carried by the runoff. Model results show that fecal coliform vary strongly in space in both the Tidal Basin and Washington Channel. The storm water only impacts a small area around the storm water outfall in the Tidal Basin and the impacts are negligible in the Washington Channel due to dilution. The water from the Potomac River may affect the fecal coliform level in the area close to the flap gate in the Tidal Basin. The fecal coliform level in the Washington Channel is mainly controlled by the fecal coliform level in the Anacostia River, which is located at the open boundary of the Washington Channel. The potential sediment layer storage of fecal coliform was analyzed and it was found that the sediment layer fecal coliform level could be much higher than the water column fecal coliform level and becomes a secondary source under high bottom shear stress condition. The developed model built solid connection of fecal coliform source and concentration in the water column and has been used to develop TMDL.

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“…Numerous studies have documented elevated levels of chemical contaminants in sediments, surface waters and fish tissue throughout the river (Foster et al 2000;McGee et al 2009;Velinsky et al 1994;Wade et al 1994) and their impact to fish and benthic biota (McGee et al 2009;Pinkney et al 2004;Schlekat et al 1994;Velinsky and Cummins 1996). In the past decade, the District of Columbia and State of Maryland have implemented assessments and control programs that are geared to reducing the inputs of many contaminants and begin to restore the river.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical contamination of the Anacostia River, Washington, D.C.

Velinsky¹,

Riedel

Ashley

et al. 2011

Environ Monit Assess

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The tidal Anacostia River in Washington DC has long been impacted by various sources of chemical pollution over the past 200 years. To explore more recent inputs of various chemicals, six sediment cores were collected for dating and chemical analysis in the downstream section of the tidal Anacostia River. Profiles of contaminants in sediment cores can be useful in determining management direction and effectiveness of pollution controls over time. There were two main objectives for this investigation: (1) determine current sediment contaminant levels; (2) determine a historical perspective of the sediment changes in contamination using (137)Cs and (210)Pb dating. The determination of an age-depth relationship using (210)Pb and (137)Cs dating gave somewhat different results, suggesting that the assumptions of (210)Pb dating were not met. Using the (137)Cs horizon allowed an assignment of approximate sediment accumulation rates and hence an age-depth relationship to contaminant events in the upper portions of the cores. Total PAHs showed higher concentrations at depth and lower surface concentrations. In the upper sections, PAHs were a mixture of combustion and petrogenic sources, while at depth the signature appeared to be of natural origins. Total PCBs, DDTs and chlordane concentrations showed a maximum in recent sediments, decreasing towards the surface. PCBs had lower molecular weight congeners near the surface and higher molecular weights at depth. A phthalate ester, DEHP, appeared in the mid 1940-1950s, and decreased towards the surface. Trace elements fell roughly into three groups. Fe, Mn, and As were in approximately constant proportion to Al, except in some deeper, sandy sediments, where they showed enrichments linked to redox conditions. Ag, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn had low concentrations in the deepest sediments, high concentrations at mid-depths, and declines to intermediate levels at the surface. Ni and Cr followed neither of these patterns closely. We observed that many contaminants appeared in the Anacostia sediments at various times, and reached relatively high concentrations in the past, but are now showing declines in loadings. In some cases, such as PCBs, DDT, chlordane, and Pb from leaded gasoline, these declines can be clearly linked to the discontinuation of their use for environmental reasons. For other contaminants (e.g., PAHs, DEHP, selected metals) these declines are more likely the result of changes in production, usage and waste control.

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Tidal River Sediments in the Washington, D. C. Area. I. Distribution and Sources of Trace Metals

Cited by 40 publications

References 27 publications

Spatial and seasonal variations of the macrobenthic community and metal contamination in the Douro estuary (Portugal)

Spatial and seasonal variations of the macrobenthic community and metal contamination in the Douro estuary (Portugal)

Three-Dimensional Modeling of Fecal Coliform in the Tidal Basin and Washington Channel, Washington, DC

Historical contamination of the Anacostia River, Washington, D.C.

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