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Water-Resources Investigations Report 82–36

Prepared in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Resources

Chemical-Quality Reconnaissance of the Water and Surficial Bed Material in the Delaware River Estuary and Adjacent New Jersey Tributaries, 1980-81

By Joseph J. Hockreiter, Jr.

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Abstract

This report presents chemical-quality data collected from May 1980 to January 1981, at several locations within the Delaware River estuary and selected New Jersey tributaries. Samples of surface water were analyzed for Environmental Protection Agency "priority pollutants," including acid extractable, base/neutral extractable and volatile organic compounds, in addition to selected dissolved inorganic constituents. Surficial bed material at selected locations was examined for trace metals, insecticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and base/neutral extractable organic compounds.

Trace levels (1-50 μg/L) of purgeable organic compounds, particularly those associated with the occurrence of hydrocarbons, were found in about 60 percent of the water samples taken. DDT, DDD, DDE, PCB's, and chlordane are present in most surficial bed material samples. Diazinon was the only organophosphorous insecticide detected in the study (1.6 μg/kg at one location). High values for select trace metals in bed material were discovered at two locations. Of the 10 sites samples, the surficial bed material containing the most contamination was found along one cross section of Raccoon Creek at Bridgeport. An additional analysis of Raccoon Creek revealed bed material containing toluene, oil and grease, and trace quantities of 15 base/neutral extractable organic compounds, including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalate esters, and chlorinated benzenes.

First posted September 13, 2012

For additional information contact:
Director, New Jersey Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
810 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 206
West Trenton, New Jersey 08628
http://nj.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Hockreiter, J.J., Jr., 1982, Chemical-quality reconnaissance of the water and surficial bed material in the Delaware River estuary and adjacent New Jersey tributaries, 1980-81: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 82–36, 41 p., available only at https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri82-36/.



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

The Delaware River estuary

Data collection

Results

Discussion

Summary and conclusions

Suggestions for further study

Selected references


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