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Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic

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Abstract

This research examines the feasibility of analyzing tree cores to detect benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m, p, o-xylene (BTEX) compounds and methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in groundwater in eastern Canada subarctic environments, using a former landfill site in the remote community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination at the landfill site is the result of environmentally unsound pre-1990s disposal of households and industrial solid wastes. Tree cores were taken from trembling aspen, black spruce, and white birch and analyzed by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. BTEX compounds were detected in tree cores, corroborating known groundwater contamination. A zone of anomalously high concentrations of total BTEX constituents was identified and recommended for monitoring by groundwater wells. Tree cores collected outside the landfill site at a local control area suggest the migration of contaminants off-site. Tree species exhibit different concentrations of BTEX constituents, indicating selective uptake and accumulation. Toluene in wood exhibited the highest concentrations, which may also be due to endogenous production. Meanwhile, MTBE was not found in the tree cores and is considered to be absent in the groundwater. The results demonstrate that tree-core analysis can be useful for detecting anomalous concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, such as BTEX compounds, in subarctic sites with shallow unconfined aquifers and permeable soils. This method can therefore aid in the proper management of contamination during landfill operations and after site closures.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the Canadian Department of National Defence for its interest and support and for access to the landfill site, and to the municipality of Happy Valley-Goose Bay for supporting this research project. Special thanks to C. Cooney, environmental officer Canadian Force Base 5 Wing Goose Bay, and D. AuCoin, M. Clough and other staff at the environmental office of Defence Construction Canada Goose Bay for their generous logistical and field support, and for access to unpublished contract reports on the landfill site assessment and remediation. R. Sparkes (Labrador Institute) graciously assisted with community consultation at various stages of the project. M. Mills, D. Frawley, and S. Murphy (Labrador Institute) are acknowledged for their assistance during tree-core sampling. We thank G. Van Biesen (CREAIT-Memorial University) for his analytical assistance, support and valuable discussions. D. Frawley also kindly prepared the figures for this manuscript. M. Mills (Labrador Institute) and D. Chipley (Queen’s University) are thanked for their constructive editorial comments that greatly improved this manuscript. We appreciate additional insightful comments by Environmental Sciences and Pollution Research and four anonymous reviewers. This research benefited from financial support by the Harris Centre MMSB Waste Management Applied Research Fund 2014–2015 and the Memorial Undergraduate Career Experience Program (MUCEP) grant-Spring 2014 to M. L.D. Fonkwe. This research is also supported by funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agencies (ACOA) and the Department of Business, Tourism, Culture, and Rural Development, Newfoundland and Labrador (BTCRD NL).

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  1. Labrador Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 219 Hamilton River Road, P.O. Box 490, Station B, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, A0P 1E0, Canada

    Merline L. D. Fonkwe

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

    Stefan Trapp

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  1. Merline L. D. Fonkwe
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Correspondence to Merline L. D. Fonkwe.

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Fonkwe, M.L.D., Trapp, S. Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 16137–16151 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6802-2

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