Chemical-quality reconnaissance of the water and surficial bed material in the Delaware River estuary and adjacent New Jersey tributaries, 1980-81
Water-Resources Investigations Report
82-36
Prepared in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Resources
By: Joseph J. Hochreiter 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 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 micrograms per liter) of purgeable organic compounds, particularly those associated with the occurrence of hydrocarbons, were found in about 60% 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 micrograms per kilogram at one location). High values for select trace metals in bed material were discovered at two locations. Of the 10 sites sampled, 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.
Suggested Citation
Hochreiter, J.J., 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, vii, 41 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri8236.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Chemical-quality reconnaissance of the water and surficial bed material in the Delaware River estuary and adjacent New Jersey tributaries, 1980-81 |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 82-36 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri8236 |
| Year Published | 1982 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | New Jersey Water Science Center |
| Description | vii, 41 p. |
| Time Range Start | 1980-01-01 |
| Time Range End | 1981-12-31 |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| Other Geospatial | Delaware River estuary |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |