Abstract
Recent studies have shown that natural perchlorate may be an important component to the general population exposure. These studies indicate that natural perchlorate is likely deposited by atmospheric deposition. Perchlorate concentration of total (dry + wet) deposition is relatively unstudied yet these measurements will aid in understanding natural levels in the environment. We sampled total deposition monthly at six sites in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY from November 30, 2005 until July 5, 2007. The mean perchlorate concentration is 0.21 ± 0.04 (standard error) μg L−1 with a maximum value of 2.78 μg L−1 . Here we show up to an 18-fold increase above the mean concentration in July 2006 and July 2007 samples. It appears that this increase in perchlorate in total deposition is associated with Fourth of July fireworks.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Backus, S. M., Klawuun, P., Brown, S., D’sa, I., Sharp, S., Surette, C., & Williams, D. J. (2005). Determination of perchlorate in selected surface waters in the Great Lakes Basin by HPLC/MS/MS. Chemosphere, 61, 834–843. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.04.054.
Barron, L., Nesterenko, P. N., & Paull, B. (2006). Rapid on-line pre concentration and suppressed micro-bore ion chromatography of part per trillion levels of perchlorate in rainwater samples. Analytica Chimica Acta, 567, 127–134. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2006.01.038.
Blount, B. C., & Valentin-Blasini, L. (2006). Analysis of perchlorate, thiocyanate, nitrate and iodide in human amniotic fluid using ion chromatography and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta, 567, 87–93. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2006.02.010.
Busciolano, R. (2004). Statistical analysis of long-term hydrologic records for selection of drought-monitoring sites on Long Island, New York, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5152.
Dasgupta, P. K., Dyke, V. J., Kirk, A. B., & Jackson, W. A. (2006). Perchlorate in the United States. Analysis of relative source contributions to the food chain. Environmental Science & Technology, 40, 6608–6614. doi:10.1021/es061321z.
Dasgupta, P. K., Martinelango, P. K., Jackson, W. A., Anderson, T. A., Tian, K., Tock, R. W., et al. (2005). The origin of naturally occurring perchlorate: the role of atmospheric processes. Environmental Science & Technology, 39, 1569–1575. doi:10.1021/es048612x.
Draxler, R. R., & Rolph, G. D. (2003). HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) Model access via NOAA ARL Ready Website. NOAA Air Resources Laboratory, Silver Spring, MD. Retrieved from http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/hysplit4.html.
Koester, C. J., Belden, H. R., & Halden, R. U. (2000). Analysis of Perchlorate in Groundwater by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry. Environmental Science & Technology, 34, 1862–1864.
Loosmore, G. A., & Cederwall, R. T. (2004). Precipitation scavenging of atmospheric aerosols for emergency response applications: testing an updated model with new real-time data. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 993–1003. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2003.10.055.
Martinelango, P. K., Tian, K., & Dasgupta, P. K. (2006). Perchlorate in seawater—bioconcentration of iodide and perchlorate by various seaweed species. Analytica Chimica Acta, 567, 100–107. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2006.02.015.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) (2006). The occurrence and sources of perchlorate in Massachusetts. Retrieved from http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/sites/percsour.doc.
Moreno, T., Querol, X., Alastuey, A., Minguillon, M. C., Pey, J., Rodriguez, S., et al. (2007). Recreational atmospheric pollution episodes: inhalable metalliferous particles from firework displays. Atmospheric Environment, 41, 913–922. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.09.019.
Rao, B., Anderson, T. A., Orris, G. J., Rainwater, K. A., Rajagopalan, S., Sandvig, R. M., et al. (2007). Widespread natural perchlorate in unsaturated zones of the Southwest United States. Environmental Science & Technology, 41, 4522–4528. doi:10.1021/es062853i.
Ravindra, K., Mor, S., & Kaushik, C. P. (2003). Short-term variation in air quality associated with firework events: A case study. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 5, 260–264. doi:10.1039/b211943a.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2005). Perchlorate treatment technology update, EPA 542-R-05-015, 84 pp.
Wilkin, R. T., Fine, D. D., & Burnett, N. G. (2007). Perchlorate behavior in a municipal lake following fireworks displays. Environmental Science & Technology, 41, 3966–3971. doi:10.1021/es0700698.
Acknowledgment
This study was funded by the Suffolk County Water Authority and by a Department of Education GAANN Fellowship to JM.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Munster, J., Hanson, G.N., Jackson, W.A. et al. The Fallout from Fireworks: Perchlorate in Total Deposition. Water Air Soil Pollut 198, 149–153 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9833-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9833-6