Grantee Research Project Results

Role of Particles in Mobilizing Hazardous Chemicals in Urban Runoff

EPA Grant Number: R825513C021
Subproject: this is subproject number 021 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R825513
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (2001) - South and Southwest HSRC
Center Director: Reible, Danny D.
Title: Role of Particles in Mobilizing Hazardous Chemicals in Urban Runoff
Investigators: Wiesner, Mark R.
Institution: Rice University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: January 1, 1992 through January 1, 1995
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (1989) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Substance Research Centers , Land and Waste Management

Objective:

The principal goal of this research was to obtain sufficient information on the characteristics of colloidal/particulate materials in urban runoff and in local rivers of the Houston Metropolitan Area to estimate loading of these particles and any associated contaminants into surface waters and sediments.

Three tasks were proposed in this research effort:

1.) Particle size distributions and the concentrations of target inorganic and organic contaminants were measured during background flow and storm water flow conditions at various locations in an urban watershed.
2.) The evolution of storm water quality over time at one location in the water shed was monitored during intensive sampling efforts during four storm events.
3.) The effect of particle aggregation as a transformation process affecting the fate of adsorbed contaminants was investigated.

Approach:

An electronic particle counter and light scattering device were used to obtain detailed information on particle size and concentration in the colloidal range on samples collected during storm events in Houston, Texas. Filtered and unfiltered samples were analyzed to identify dissolved and particulate fractions of heavy metals and organic contaminants. These data were used to identify significant differences in loadings and load characteristics between areas and thereby aid in the selection of 6 field sites. These data were integrated with a database on land use for the Houston Metropolitan Area using an existing Geographical Information System (GIS). Estimates of contaminant loadings from urban areas and the resultant in-stream concentrations of specific parameters were generated using the GIS and compared with values for these parameters measured in receiving waters.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 10 publications for this subproject | View all 392 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 2 journal articles for this subproject | View all 106 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

stormwater runoff, water quality, and suspended solids., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Water, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Chemical Engineering, Contaminated Sediments, Environmental Chemistry, State, Fate & Transport, Wet Weather Flows, Hazardous Waste, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Engineering, Hazardous, fate and transport, environmental technology, sediment treatment, hazardous waste management, hazardous waste treatment, risk assessment, hydrologic dynamics, contaminated marine sediment, soil and groundwater remediation, contaminated sediment, runoff, kinetics, urban runoff, modeling, chemical contaminants, contaminated soil, marine sediments, remediation, chemical kinetics, hydrology, Texas (TX), pollutant - sediment interaction, GIS, currents, hazardous chemicals, stormwater runoff, groundwater, aquifer fate and treatment, technical outreach, contaminant transport models

Progress and Final Reports:

1992

1993

Final Report

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R825513    HSRC (2001) - South and Southwest HSRC

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R825513C001 Sediment Resuspension and Contaminant Transport in an Estuary.
R825513C002 Contaminant Transport Across Cohesive Sediment Interfaces.
R825513C003 Mobilization and Fate of Inorganic Contaminant due to Resuspension of Cohesive Sediment.
R825513C004 Source Identification, Transformation, and Transport Processes of N-, O- and S- Containing Organic Chemicals in Wetland and Upland Sediments.
R825513C005 Mobility and Transport of Radium from Sediment and Waste Pits.
R825513C006 Anaerobic Biodegradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene and Other Nitroaromatic Compounds by Clostridium Acetobutylicum.
R825513C007 Investigation on the Fate and Biotransformation of Hexachlorobutadiene and Chlorobenzenes in a Sediment-Water Estuarine System
R825513C008 An Investigation of Chemical Transport from Contaminated Sediments through Porous Containment Structures
R825513C009 Evaluation of Placement and Effectiveness of Sediment Caps
R825513C010 Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-Sediment Processes
R825513C011 Pollutant Fluxes to Aquatic Systems via Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-Sediment Processes
R825513C012 Controls on Metals Partitioning in Contaminated Sediments
R825513C013 Phytoremediation of TNT Contaminated Soil and Groundwaters
R825513C014 Sediment-Based Remediation of Hazardous Substances at a Contaminated Military Base
R825513C015 Effect of Natural Dynamic Changes on Pollutant-Sediment Interaction
R825513C016 Desorption of Nonpolar Organic Pollutants from Historically Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Materials
R825513C017 Modeling Air Emissions of Organic Compounds from Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Materials title change in last year to "Long-term Release of Pollutants from Contaminated Sediment Dredged Material"
R825513C018 Development of an Integrated Optic Interferometer for In-Situ Monitoring of Volatile Hydrocarbons
R825513C019 Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Material
R825513C020 Bioremediation of Sediments Contaminated with Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
R825513C021 Role of Particles in Mobilizing Hazardous Chemicals in Urban Runoff
R825513C022 Particle Transport and Deposit Morphology at the Sediment/Water Interface
R825513C023 Uptake of Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Sediments
R825513C024 Bioavailability of Desorption Resistant Hydrocarbons in Sediment-Water Systems.
R825513C025 Interactive Roles of Microbial and Spartina Populations in Mercury Methylation Processes in Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments in Salt-Marsh Systems
R825513C026 Evaluation of Physical-Chemical Methods for Rapid Assessment of the Bioavailability of Moderately Polar Compounds in Sediments
R825513C027 Freshwater Bioturbators in Riverine Sediments as Enhancers of Contaminant Release
R825513C028 Characterization of Laguna Madre Contaminated Sediments.
R825513C029 The Role of Competitive Adsorption of Suspended Sediments in Determining Partitioning and Colloidal Stability.
R825513C030 Remediation of TNT-Contaminated Soil by Cyanobacterial Mat.
R825513C031 Experimental and Detailed Mathematical Modeling of Diffusion of Contaminants in Fluids
R825513C033 Application of Biotechnology in Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments
R825513C034 Characterization of PAH's Degrading Bacteria in Coastal Sediments
R825513C035 Dynamic Aspects of Metal Speciation in the Miami River Sediments in Relation to Particle Size Distribution of Chemical Heterogeneity