Superfund sites may be a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the surrounding environment. These sites can also act as PAH sinks from present day anthropogenic activities especially in urban locations. Understanding PAH transport across environmental compartments helps to define the relative contributions of these sources and is therefore important for informing remedial and management decisions. In the present study, paired passive samplers were co-deployed at sediment-water, and water-air interfaces within the Portland Harbor Superfund site (PHSS) and the McCormick and Baxter Superfund Site (MCBSS). These sites, located along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, have PAH contamination from both legacy and modern sources. Diffusive flux calculations indicate that the Willamette River acts predominately as a sink for low molecular weight PAHs from both the sediment and the air. The sediment was also predominately a source of 4 and 5 ring PAHs to the river and the river was a source of these same PAHs to the air, indicating that legacy pollution may be contributing to PAH exposure for residents of the Portland urban center. At the remediated MCBSS, surface water measurements allowed for an assessment of cap effectiveness while flux measurements showed potential areas of seepage providing an additional level of information for site managers.

Diffusive flux of PAHs across sediment-water and water-air interfaces at urban superfund sites

254th National Meeting (2017)

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