title: Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Polychlorinated Biphenyls in New Jersey 1997-2011.
abstract: Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Delaware River currently exceed the Water Quality Criteria of 16 pg/L for the sum of PCBs due in part to atmospheric deposition. The purpose of this work was to use a source apportionment tool called Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) to identify the sources of PCBs to the atmosphere in this area and determine whether their concentrations are declining over time. The data set was compiled by the Delaware Atmospheric Deposition Network (DADN) from samples taken in Camden, NJ from 1999 to 2011 and New Brunswick, NJ from 1997 to 2011. The PMF analysis revealed four resolved factors at each site. The factors that dominate the PCB burden in the atmosphere at both Camden and New Brunswick resemble Aroclor 1242. These factors declined in concentration during some portions of the monitoring period, but this decline slowed or stopped during 2003-2011. None of the factors displayed consistent declines in concentration throughout the monitoring periods, and some factors actually increased in concentration during some periods. This suggests natural attenuation alone will not control atmospheric PCB concentrations, and additional efforts are needed to control PCB atmospheric emissions as well as the numerous other sources of PCBs to the estuary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University , 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States.
authors.forename: Pornsawai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Praipipat
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Rutgers University , Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States.
authors.forename: Qingyu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University , 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Miskewitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University , 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6828-173X
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rodenburg
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D009515:New Jersey; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D045483:Rivers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls