SGER: Particle Incorporation of PAH in Aquatic Environments: Implications to Fate and Transport

我们的探索性工作研究了多环芳烃（PAH）和特定颗粒类型（例如，含碳物质）和颗粒大小的分数在下哈德逊河。 我们的方法是检查大气颗粒物，道路清扫，水柱颗粒物，沉积物和水样品从下哈德逊的多环芳烃的分子和碳同位素组成。此外，我们将表征所有颗粒物和沉积物样品的大小和成分特征，并进行PAH-颗粒相互作用实验，以补充我们的实地观察。 我们的中心假设是，多环芳烃颗粒协会在下哈德逊主要是在他们的共生（在多环芳烃源）和改变，在他们的运输过程中发生的河流沉积之前，和较少的沉积物中的水颗粒分区。这些区别的含义是不平凡的，因为这些假设中的每一个都可能导致不同的方法来模拟来源，运输和命运或制定预防，遏制或补救疏水性污染物的战略。 阐明颗粒-多环芳烃缔合物的性质和起源对于更广泛地评价多环芳烃和其他有机污染物在水环境中的自然分布、归宿和补救至关重要。 地表水和相关的水产资源面临着工业、农业、商业和城市化活动副产品污染的持续威胁。许多有毒化合物，如多环芳烃，具有对固相和有机相具有高亲和力的特性，导致其在颗粒表面富集以及在食物链中生物累积。更好地了解这些过程将有助于控制污染物的影响，并允许更好地管理受污染的水生环境的补救。 考虑到最近批准的启动美国历史上最大的补救项目的计划-在哈德逊河40英里长的河段中疏浚受多氯联苯污染的沉积物-这是相关的。 该SGER项目还具有更广泛的教育和合作伙伴关系，并支持研究生研究，并将涉及本科研究参与者，政府和私人研究合作者以及哈德逊河谷地区的高中生。

Our exploratory work examines the nature and origin of molecular and nanoscale interactions between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and specific particle types (e.g., carbonaceous matter) and particle size fractions in the Lower Hudson River. Our approach is to examine the molecular and carbon isotopic compositions of PAHs in atmospheric particulates, road sweeps, water column particulates, sediments and water samples from the Lower Hudson. Additionally, we will characterize the size and compositional characteristics of all particulate and sediment samples and perform PAH-particle interaction experiments to complement our field observations. Our central hypothesis is that the PAH-particle association in the Lower Hudson is determined primarily during their co-generation (in the PAH source) and alterations that occur during their transport prior to riverine deposition, and less so by water-particle partitioning in the deposited sediments. The implication of these distinctions is not trivial, as each of these assumptions can lead to differing approaches to modeling sources, transport and fate or devising strategies for prevention, containment or remediation of the hydrophobic contaminants. The elucidation of the nature and origin of particle-PAH association is immensely critical for the broader evaluation of the natural disposition, fate and remediation of PAHs and other organic contaminants in aquatic environments. Surface water and related aquatic resources face continuing threats of contamination from by-products of industrial, agricultural, commercial and urbanization activities. Many of these toxic compounds, such as PAHs, have properties that give them a high affinity for solid and organic phases, resulting in their enrichment in particle surfaces as well as their bioaccumulation in food chains. An improved understanding of these processes will assist in controlling contaminant impacts and allow better management of the remediation of contaminated aquatic environments. This is pertinent given the recently approved plans to initiate the largest remediation project in U.S. history - the dredging of PCB-contaminated sediments in a 40-mile stretch of the Hudson River. This SGER project also has broader Educational and Partnership and supports graduate student research, and will involve undergraduate research participants, government and private research collaborators and high school students in the Hudson valley region.