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Aquatic Hazard Assessment of a Contaminated Surficial Aquifer Discharge into the Bush River, Maryland (U.S.A.)

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Abstract

An aquatic hazard assessment of contaminatedgroundwater in a surficial aquifer was conducted at Beach Pointwhich is located in the Edgewood Area of the U.S. Army Garrison,Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Toxicity was detected atvarious groundwater concentrations by seven of 10 toxicity testsystems exposed to a mixture of heavy metals and chlorinatedaliphatic hydrocarbons. When estimated maximum acceptabletoxicant concentrations (MATC) were established, the data foralgae, invertebrates, and fish suggested that the groundwaterwould not be harmful at a concentration of 10% groundwater byvolume. Likewise, no genotoxicity (Ames and SEC assays),development toxicity (FETAX), or chronic histopathology (9-monthfish test) occurred at 10% groundwater by volume.Near-field (ULINE model) and far-field (dye-tracer model)screening level dilution models were run to estimate the dilutionof the groundwater discharge plume from Beach Point into the BushRiver. The groundwater was considered to be a potentiallyexcessive hazardous material to the biota in the Bush River whena number of conservative assumptions regarding contaminantdistribution and discharge rate of the aquifer were used in thehazard assessment. By modeling the groundwater emanating fromBeach Point as the dilution of a discharge from a line diffuser,the potential water quality impacts were judged to be minimal ifState of Maryland surface water discharge criteria for a mixingzone were used for the discharge of groundwater to the Bush River.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wye Research and Education Center, University of Maryland, P.O. Box 250, Queenstown, MD, 21658, U.S.A.

    Dennis T. Burton

  2. Najarian Associates, One Industrial Way, West, Eatontown, NJ, 07724, U.S.A

    Joseph L. DiLorenzo

  3. U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702, U.S.A

    Tommy R. Shedd

  4. U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, Directorate of Safety, Health and Environment, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, U.S.A

    John G. Wrobel

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  1. Dennis T. Burton
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  2. Joseph L. DiLorenzo
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  4. John G. Wrobel
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Correspondence to Dennis T. Burton.

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Burton, D.T., DiLorenzo, J.L., Shedd, T.R. et al. Aquatic Hazard Assessment of a Contaminated Surficial Aquifer Discharge into the Bush River, Maryland (U.S.A.). Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 139, 159–182 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015855924228

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