Assessing California groundwater susceptibility using trace concentrations of halogenated volatile organic compounds
Environmental Science & Technology
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Abstract
Twenty-four halogenated volatile organic compounds (hVOCs) and SF6 were measured in groundwater samples collected from 312 wells across California at concentrations as low as 10–12 grams per kilogram groundwater. The hVOCs detected are predominately anthropogenic (i.e., “ahVOCs”) and as such their distribution delineates where groundwaters are impacted and susceptible to human activity. ahVOC detections were broadly consistent with air-saturated water concentrations in equilibrium with a combination of industrial-era global and regional hVOC atmospheric abundances. However, detection of ahVOCs in nearly all of the samples collected, including ancient groundwaters, suggests the presence of a sampling or analytical artifact that confounds interpretation of the very-low concentration ahVOC data. To increase our confidence in ahVOC detections we establish screening levels based on ahVOC concentrations in deep wells drawing ancient groundwater in Owens Valley. Concentrations of ahVOCs below the Owens Valley screening levels account for a large number of the detections in prenuclear groundwater across California without significant loss of ahVOC detections in shallow, recently recharged groundwaters. Over 80% of the groundwaters in this study contain at least one ahVOC after screening, indicating that the footprint of human industry is nearly ubiquitous and that most California groundwaters are vulnerable to contamination from land-surface activities.
Suggested Citation
Deeds, D.A., Kulongoski, J., Belitz, K., 2012, Assessing California groundwater susceptibility using trace concentrations of halogenated volatile organic compounds: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 46, no. 24, p. 13128-13135, https://doi.org/10.1021/es303546b.
ISSN: 1520-5851 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Assessing California groundwater susceptibility using trace concentrations of halogenated volatile organic compounds |
| Series title | Environmental Science & Technology |
| DOI | 10.1021/es303546b |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 24 |
| Publication Date | November 29, 2012 |
| Year Published | 2012 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | ACS Publications |
| Publisher location | Washington, D.C. |
| Contributing office(s) | California Water Science Center |
| Description | 8 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Environmental Science and Technology |
| First page | 13128 |
| Last page | 13135 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |