Transport and Biogeochemical Fate of Organic Substances in Aquatic Environments

Organic Substances are transported in both particulate and dissolved phases in aquatic environments. However, our understanding of the processes affecting phase exchange and removal are incomplete. In order to predict the short- and long-term fate of toxic organic substances in a variety of aquatic environments, it is necessary to determine the physical properties of these compounds and establish kinetic data on their removal rates using a combination of field studies and laboratory experiments. The objectives of this project are to investigate the composition and concentration of organic matter associated with dissolved and particulate phases in surface and subsurface waters and compare these data with distributions based on laboratory partitioning experiments and partitioning models and to develop data on the rates at which organic matter is transformed (and remineralized) in aquatic environments and on the products that result. The information will be used to establish the relative importance of different removal processes under a variety of environmental conditions. Ultimately these results will be incorporated into particle and solute transport models. For additional information about this project, see project page: Organic Compounds in Near-Surface Environments: Understanding Fate in a Changing Biogechmical Landscape.

REPORTS PUBLISHED 1999-2008

Eganhouse, R.P., and Pontolillo, J., 2008, Susceptibility of Synthetic Long-Chain Alkylbenzenes to Degradation in Reducing Marine Sediments: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 42, no. 17, p. 6361-6368. (on-line abstract or on-line paper in pdf format, 1365 KB, published by the American Chemical Society, not subject to U.S. copyright)

Eganhouse, R.P., and Pontolillo, J., 2008, DDE in Sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf, California: In Situ Transformation Rates and Geochemical Fate: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 42, no. 17, p. 6392 - 6398. (on-line abstract or on-line paper in pdf format, 926 KB, published by the American Chemical Society, not subject to U.S. copyright)

Eganhouse, R.P. and Pontolillo, J., 2008, Assessment of 1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene (DDE) transformation rates on the Palos Verdes Shelf, CA: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1362, 119 p. (on-line abstract or on-line report in pdf format, 2.79 MB)

Field, J.A., and Eganhouse, R.P., 2008, In honor of Walter Giger: setting standards of excellence in environmental organic chemistry: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 42, no. 17, p. 6307-6308.

Eganhouse, R.P., 2004, Molecular markers and their use in environmental organic geochemistry, in Hill, R.J., Leventhal, J., Aizenshtat, Z., Baedecker, M.J., Claypool, G., Eganhouse, R., Goldhaber, M., and Peters, K., eds., Geochemical Investigations in Earth and Space Science - A Tribute to Isaac R. Kaplan: Special Publication Series No. 9, The Geochemical Society, Elsevier, Amsterdam, p. 143-158

Hill, R.J., Leventhal, J., Aizenshtat, Z., Baedecker, M.J., Claypool, G., Eganhouse, R., Goldhaber, M., and Peters, K., eds., 2004, Geochemical Investigations in Earth and Space Sciences - A Tribute to Isaac R. Kaplan: Special Publication Series No. 9, The Geochemical Society, Elsevier, Amsterdam. (on-line description of book)

Essaid, H.I., Cozzarelli, I.M., Eganhouse, R.P., Herkelrath, W.N., Bekins, B.A., and Delin, G.N., 2003, Inverse modeling of BTEX dissolution and biodegradation at the Bemidji, MN crude-oil spill site, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, v. 67, pp 269-299. (on-line abstract)

Drake, D.E., Eganhouse, R., and McArthur, W., 2002, Physical and chemical effects of grain aggregates on the Palos Verdes margin, southern California: Continental Shelf Research, v. 22, no. 6-7, p. 967-986. (on-line abstract or on-line pdf file)

Cozzarelli, I.M., Bekins, B.A., Baedecker, M.J., Aiken, G.R., Eganhouse, R.P. and Tuccillo, M.E., 2001, Progression of natural attenuation processes at a crude-oil spill site; I. Geochemical evolution of the plume: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, v. 53, p. 369-385. (on-line abstract)

Eganhouse, R.P., Cozzarelli, I.M., Scholl, M.A., and Matthews, L.L., 2001, Natural attenuation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the leachate plume of a municipal landfill: Using alkylbenzenes as process probes: Ground Water, v. 39, no. 2, p. 192-202. (on-line abstract or on-line pdf file. This pdf file is reprinted with permission from Ground Water)

Eganhouse, R.P., and Sherblom, P.M., 2001, Anthropogenic organic contaminants in the effluent of a combined sewer overflow: impact on Boston Harbor: Marine Environmental Research, v. 51, p. 51-74. (on-line abstract or on-line pdf file. This pdf file is reprinted with permission from Elsevier Science. For related information, see Marine Environmental Research or ScienceDirect^TM)

Pontolillo, J., and Eganhouse, R.P., 2001, The search for reliable aqueous solubility (S_w) and octanol-water partition coefficient (K_ow) data for hydrophobic organic compounds: DDT and DDE as a case study: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4201, 55 p. (on-line abstract and link to pdf file)

Eganhouse, R.P., and Pontolillo, J., 2000, Depositional history of organic contaminants on the Palos Verdes Shelf, California: Marine Chemistry, v. 70, p. 317-338. (on-line abstract or on-line pdf file. This pdf file is reprinted with permission from Elsevier Science. For related information, see Marine Chemistry or ScienceDirect^TM)

Eganhouse, R.P., Pontolillo, J., and Leiker, T.J. 2000. Diagenetic fate of organic contaminants on the Palos Verdes Shelf, California: Marine Chemistry, v. 70, p. 289-315. (on-line abstract) or on-line pdf file. This pdf file is reprinted with permission from Elsevier Science. For related information, see Marine Chemistry or ScienceDirect^TM)

Cozzarelli, I.M., Baedecker, M.J., Eganhouse, R.P., Tuccillo, M.E., Aiken, G.R., Bekins, B.A., and Jaeschke, J.B., 1999, Long-term geochemical evolution of the Bemidji Toxics site crude-oil plume, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program - Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999--Volume 3 - Subsurface Contamination from Point Sources: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018C, p. 123-132. (on-line abstract)

Eganhouse, R.P., Matthews, L.L., Cozzarelli, I.M., and Scholl, M.A., 1999, Evidence for natural attenuation of volatile organic compounds in the leachate plume of the Norman, Oklahoma landfill, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program - Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999--Volume 3 - Subsurface Contamination from Point Sources: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018C, p. 531-540.(on-line abstract)

Godsy, E.M., Warren, E., Cozzarelli, I.M., Bekins, B.A., and Eganhouse, R.P. 1999. Determining BTEX bio-degradation rates using in situ microcosms at the Bemidji site. Minnesota: Trials and Tribulations, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., eds., U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program - Proceeding of the Technical Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999, Volume 3: U.S. Geological Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4018C, p. 159-167.(on-line abstract)

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT, CONTACT:
Robert P. Eganhouse
U.S. Geological Survey, 432 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
Email: eganhous@usgs.gov
Telephone: 703-648-5879

For information on additional projects in the National Research Program, see Indexes to NRP projects and bibliographies.