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

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Abstract

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 137Cs and 210Pb dating. The determination of an age–depth relationship using 210Pb and 137Cs dating gave somewhat different results, suggesting that the assumptions of 210Pb dating were not met. Using the 137Cs 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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Patrick Center for Environmental Research, The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA

    David J. Velinsky & Jeffrey T. F. Ashley

  2. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, PO Box 28, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD, 20137, USA

    Gerhardt F. Riedel

  3. School of Science and Health, Philadelphia University, Schoolhouse Lane and Henry Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19144, USA

    Jeffrey T. F. Ashley

  4. UMCES Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland, P.O. Box 775, Cambridge, MD, 21613-0775, USA

    Jeffrey C. Cornwell

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  1. David J. Velinsky
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  2. Gerhardt F. Riedel
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  3. Jeffrey T. F. Ashley
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  4. Jeffrey C. Cornwell
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Correspondence to David J. Velinsky.

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Velinsky, D.J., Riedel, G.F., Ashley, J.T.F. et al. Historical contamination of the Anacostia River, Washington, D.C.. Environ Monit Assess 183, 307–328 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-1923-z

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