The Atmosphere - A Potential Source of MTBE to Ground Water

USGS scientists have discovered that the atmosphere is a potential source of the low concentrations of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) detected in shallow ground water in southern New Jersey. The scientists measured atmospheric concentrations of MTBE from November 1996 to February 1998

Nonpoint-source pollution is one of the biggest threats to the quality of the Nation's ground waters. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as MTBE, benzene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene (TCE) are frequently detected in ground water. Land-use planners are faced with difficult decisions concerning development of land and the protection of ground water from these contaminants. Fundamental to developing sound land-use policies is understanding what role the unsaturated zone plays in protecting shallow ground water from contamination due to land-use activities (residential, urban, agricultural), and whether or not the frequent occurrence of VOCs is due to the coalescing of unidentified point-source plumes, the improper disposal of used motor oil, the flushing of contaminants from the atmosphere during rain storms, or some other mechanism. The above studies of the fate of MTBE have increased the knowledge of potential sources of MTBE in ground water and the role of the unsaturated zone in protecting ground water. This understanding can be used by land-use managers to develop sound policies.

These studies were a joint project between the Toxic Substances Hydrology and the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Programs.

References

• Baehr, A.L., Charles, E.G., and Baker, R.J., 2001, Methyl tert-butyl ether degradation in the unsaturated zone and the relation between MTBE in the atmosphere and shallow groundwater: Water Resources Research, v. 37, no. 2, p. 223-233.
• Baehr, A.L., Stackelberg, P.E., and Baker, R.J., 1999, Evaluation of the atmosphere as a source of volatile organic compounds in shallow groundwater: Water Resources Research, v. 35, no. 1, p. 127-136.
• Pankow, J.F., Thomson, N.R., Johnson, R.L., Baehr, A.L., and Zogorski, J.S., 1997, The urban atmosphere as a non-point source for the transport of MTBE and other volatile organic compounds (VOC's) to shallow groundwater: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 31, no. 10, p. 2821-2828.

Related Headlines

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• Microorganisms Degrade MTBE Even at Winter Ground-Water Temperatures
• Used Motor Oil a Potential Source of MTBE in Ground Water
• MTBE Can Degrade Naturally Without Oxygen
• MTBE Biodegrades Naturally in Stream Sediments
• Natural Attenuation of MTBE at Laurel Bay, South Carolina

More information on MTBE

• Processes Affecting the Natural Attenuation of Fuels in Ground Water -- Fuel Oxygenates (MTBE) -- Laurel Bay, South Carolina
  
  
• NAWQA National Synthesis--Volatile Organic Chemicals

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