U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Prepared in cooperation with The Lower Columbia River Estuary Program and the National Stream Quality Accounting Network Program Investigation of the Distribution of Organochlorine and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds in the Lower Columbia River Using Semipermeable Membrane Devices Water-Resources Investigations Report 99–4051 Investigation of the Distribution of Organochlorine and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds in the Lower Columbia River Using Semipermeable Membrane Devices By Kathleen A. McCarthy and Robert W. Gale U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 99–4051 Prepared in cooperation with the Lower Columbia River Estuary Program and the National Stream Quality Accounting Network Program Portland, Oregon 1999 K. A. McCarthy and R. W. Gale—INVESTIGATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANOCHLORINE AND POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDRO- CARBON COMPOUNDS IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER USING SEMIPERMEABLE-MEMBRANE DEVICES—U.S. Geological Survey WRIR Report 99– U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Information Services 10615 SE Cherry Blossom Dr Box 25286 Portland, OR 97216 Federal Center E-mail: [email protected] Denver, CO 80225 E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................................................1 Summary .....................................................................................................................................................................................1 Background .................................................................................................................................................................................3 Concurrent Investigations ...........................................................................................................................................................5 Approach.....................................................................................................................................................................................5 Data Collection and Analyses .....................................................................................................................................................5 Organochlorine and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds in Water ..............................................................5 Deployment of Semipermeable-Membrane Devices............................................................................................5 Analyses................................................................................................................................................................9 Organic Carbon..............................................................................................................................................................10 Environmental Conditions .............................................................................................................................................10 Streambed Sediment ......................................................................................................................................................10 Estimation of Dissolved Concentrations...................................................................................................................................10 Estimation of Total Concentrations ..........................................................................................................................................11 Distribution of Organochlorine Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds ....................................................................12 Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans......................................................................12 Polychlorinated Biphenyls.............................................................................................................................................13 Organochlorine Pesticides .............................................................................................................................................30 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds ............................................................................................................44 Acknowledgments.....................................................................................................................................................................45 References.................................................................................................................................................................................55 Appendix A.—Molecular structures of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated biphenyls ................................................................................................................................59 Appendix B.—Organochlorine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds accumulated in field blanks during low-flow conditions, 1997 ....................................................................................................................63 Appendix C.—Partition coefficients, sampling rates, and equations used to estimate dissolved concentrations of organochlorine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds during low-flow conditions, 1997...........73 Appendix D.—Suspended and dissolved organic carbon during low-flow conditions, 1997..................................................83 Appendix E.—Organochlorine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds accumulated in field blanks during high-flow conditions, 1998...................................................................................................................87 Appendix F.—Organochlorine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds accumulated in SPMDS during high-flow conditions, 1998 ..............................................................................................................................95 Appendix G.—Estimated dissolved concentrations of organochlorine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds during high-flow conditions, 1998..............................................................................................109 Appendix H.—Partition coefficients, sampling rates, and equations used to estimate dissolved concentrations of organochlorine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds during high-flow conditions, 1998........117 Appendix I.—Estimated total concentrations of organochlorine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds during high-flow conditions, 1998.................................................................................................................123 Appendix J.—Suspended and dissolved organic carbon during high-flow conditions, 1998...............................................135 FIGURES 1. Map showing study area location and data-collection sites.............................................................................................4 2. Semipermeable membrane device (SPMD), deployment rack, and protective shroud....................................................9 3. Graph showing theoretical accumulation of a dissolved compound from water into a semipermeable membrane device .............................................................................................................................................................................11 4-9. Diagrams showing: 4. Sum of estimated dissolved concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins during low-flow conditions in the Columbia River Basin, 1997................................................................................................................................13 5. Sum of estimated dissolved concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans during low-flow conditions in the Columbia River Basin, 1997....................................................................................................................................13 v 6. Sum of estimated dissolved concentrations of ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls during low-flow conditions in the Columbia River Basin, 1997 ..............................................................................................................34 7. Sum of estimated dissolved concentrations of non-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls during low- flow conditions in the Columbia River Basin, 1997 ......................................................................................................34 8. Sum of estimated dissolved concentrations of organochlorine pesticides during low-flow conditions in the Columbia River Basin, 1997..........................................................................................................................................45 9. Sum of estimated dissolved concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds during low- flow conditions in the Columbia River Basin, 1997 ......................................................................................................53