Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic
This research examines the feasibility of analyzing tree cores to detect benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m, p, o-xylene (BTEX) compounds and methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in groundwater in eastern Canada subarctic environments, using a former landfill site in the remote community of Happy V...
Published in: | Environmental Science and Pollution Research |
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2016
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Online Access: | https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/82c1e734-bd6d-4250-a8d0-adc0aaac056d https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6802-2 https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/files/140543212/Fonkwe_and_Trapp_2017_Final_Public.pdf |
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ftdtupubl:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/82c1e734-bd6d-4250-a8d0-adc0aaac056d 2024-04-28T08:22:52+00:00 Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic Fonkwe, Merline L D Trapp, Stefan 2016 application/pdf https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/82c1e734-bd6d-4250-a8d0-adc0aaac056d https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6802-2 https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/files/140543212/Fonkwe_and_Trapp_2017_Final_Public.pdf eng eng https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/82c1e734-bd6d-4250-a8d0-adc0aaac056d info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Fonkwe , M L D & Trapp , S 2016 , ' Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic ' , Environmental Science and Pollution Research , vol. 23 , no. 16 , pp. 16137-16151 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6802-2 Environmental Chemistry Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis Pollution BTEX compounds Labrador MTBE Organic pollutants Phytoscreening Preliminary site assessments Remote location Solid waste disposal /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/responsible_consumption_and_production name=SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production article 2016 ftdtupubl https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6802-2 2024-04-03T15:23:15Z This research examines the feasibility of analyzing tree cores to detect benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m, p, o-xylene (BTEX) compounds and methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in groundwater in eastern Canada subarctic environments, using a former landfill site in the remote community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination at the landfill site is the result of environmentally unsound pre-1990s disposal of households and industrial solid wastes. Tree cores were taken from trembling aspen, black spruce, and white birch and analyzed by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. BTEX compounds were detected in tree cores, corroborating known groundwater contamination. A zone of anomalously high concentrations of total BTEX constituents was identified and recommended for monitoring by groundwater wells. Tree cores collected outside the landfill site at a local control area suggest the migration of contaminants off-site. Tree species exhibit different concentrations of BTEX constituents, indicating selective uptake and accumulation. Toluene in wood exhibited the highest concentrations, which may also be due to endogenous production. Meanwhile, MTBE was not found in the tree cores and is considered to be absent in the groundwater. The results demonstrate that tree-core analysis can be useful for detecting anomalous concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, such as BTEX compounds, in subarctic sites with shallow unconfined aquifers and permeable soils. This method can therefore aid in the proper management of contamination during landfill operations and after site closures. Article in Journal/Newspaper Happy Valley-Goose Bay Subarctic Technical University of Denmark: DTU Orbit Environmental Science and Pollution Research 23 16 16137 16151 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Technical University of Denmark: DTU Orbit |
op_collection_id |
ftdtupubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental Chemistry Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis Pollution BTEX compounds Labrador MTBE Organic pollutants Phytoscreening Preliminary site assessments Remote location Solid waste disposal /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/responsible_consumption_and_production name=SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production |
spellingShingle |
Environmental Chemistry Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis Pollution BTEX compounds Labrador MTBE Organic pollutants Phytoscreening Preliminary site assessments Remote location Solid waste disposal /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/responsible_consumption_and_production name=SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production Fonkwe, Merline L D Trapp, Stefan Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic |
topic_facet |
Environmental Chemistry Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis Pollution BTEX compounds Labrador MTBE Organic pollutants Phytoscreening Preliminary site assessments Remote location Solid waste disposal /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/responsible_consumption_and_production name=SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production |
description |
This research examines the feasibility of analyzing tree cores to detect benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m, p, o-xylene (BTEX) compounds and methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in groundwater in eastern Canada subarctic environments, using a former landfill site in the remote community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination at the landfill site is the result of environmentally unsound pre-1990s disposal of households and industrial solid wastes. Tree cores were taken from trembling aspen, black spruce, and white birch and analyzed by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. BTEX compounds were detected in tree cores, corroborating known groundwater contamination. A zone of anomalously high concentrations of total BTEX constituents was identified and recommended for monitoring by groundwater wells. Tree cores collected outside the landfill site at a local control area suggest the migration of contaminants off-site. Tree species exhibit different concentrations of BTEX constituents, indicating selective uptake and accumulation. Toluene in wood exhibited the highest concentrations, which may also be due to endogenous production. Meanwhile, MTBE was not found in the tree cores and is considered to be absent in the groundwater. The results demonstrate that tree-core analysis can be useful for detecting anomalous concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, such as BTEX compounds, in subarctic sites with shallow unconfined aquifers and permeable soils. This method can therefore aid in the proper management of contamination during landfill operations and after site closures. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Fonkwe, Merline L D Trapp, Stefan |
author_facet |
Fonkwe, Merline L D Trapp, Stefan |
author_sort |
Fonkwe, Merline L D |
title |
Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic |
title_short |
Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic |
title_full |
Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic |
title_fullStr |
Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic |
title_sort |
analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of happy valley-goose bay, eastern canadian subarctic |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/82c1e734-bd6d-4250-a8d0-adc0aaac056d https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6802-2 https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/files/140543212/Fonkwe_and_Trapp_2017_Final_Public.pdf |
genre |
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Subarctic |
op_source |
Fonkwe , M L D & Trapp , S 2016 , ' Analyzing tree cores to detect petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater at a former landfill site in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, eastern Canadian subarctic ' , Environmental Science and Pollution Research , vol. 23 , no. 16 , pp. 16137-16151 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6802-2 |
op_relation |
https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/82c1e734-bd6d-4250-a8d0-adc0aaac056d |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6802-2 |
container_title |
Environmental Science and Pollution Research |
container_volume |
23 |
container_issue |
16 |
container_start_page |
16137 |
op_container_end_page |
16151 |
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1797584212725858304 |