Volatile organic pollutants in biota and sediments of Lake Pontchartrain

Physicochemical properties

“…POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE (Pearson and McConnell 1975). Clams and oysters from Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans had tetrachloroethylene levels averaging up to 10 ppb (wet weight) (Ferrario et al 1985).…”

ATSDR evaluation of potential for human exposure to benzene

“…Benzene levels ranging from <2 to 191 ppb were recorded in the vicinity of five industrial facilities using or producing benzene (EPA, 1979). Sediment levels ranging from 8 to 21 ppb were detected in Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana (Ferrario, et al, 1985). In northern Virginia, approximately 200,000 gallons of liquid hydrocarbons were released from a fuel-storage terminal into the underlying soil.…”

“…Solid samples, such as soil, sediment, and foods, are most frequently prepared for analysis using the purge-and-trap method (EPA, 1979(EPA, , 1994cFerrario, et al, 1985;Hammers and Bosman, 1986;Harland, et al, 1985), although supercritical fluid extraction has recently been used (Burford, et al, 1994). Detection and quantitation of benzene may be GC/FID, GC/PID, or GC/MS.…”

Toxicological Profile for Ethylbenzene

“…The highest mean ethylbenzene concentrations and percentage of products in each category in which ethylbenzene was detected are as follows; 7.2% w/w (wet weight) in 7.5% of automotive products, 2.4% w/w in 47.8% of paint-related products, and 1.0% w/w in 11.8% of fabric and leather treatments. Hodgson et al (1996) Pontchartrain at Passes, Louisiana (Ferrario et al 1985). The highest average ethylbenzene concentration measured in tissue of bottomfish from Commencement Bay in Tacoma, Washington was reported as 0.01 mg /kg (ppm) (Nicola et al 1987).…”

“…Ethylbenzene has also been detected in surface water and groundwater (Barker 1987;Borden and Yanoschak 1990;Chen and Zoltek 1995;Cole et al 1984;Cotruvo 1985;Gschwend et al 1982;Krill and Sonzongni 1986;Quigley and Corsi 1995;Staples et al 1985;Stubin et al 1996;Stuermer et al 1982;Tester and Harker 1981), sediment (Staples et al 1985), a limited number of foodstuffs (Ferrario et al 1985;Górna-Binkul et al 1996;Kinlin et al 1972;Lovegren et al 1979;Nicola et al 1987), and in cigarette smoke (Hodgson et al 1996;Martin et al 1997;Wallace 1986;Wallace et al 1987c). Continued monitoring data at or around hazardous waste sites are needed in order to assess human exposure for populations residing in these areas.…”