Online
Publication - WRIR 03-4119 |
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Preliminary
Assessment of Microbial Communities and Biodegradation
of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds in Wetlands
at Cluster 13, Lauderick Creek Area, Aberdeen Proving
Ground, Maryland
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By
Michelle M. Lorah, Mary A. Voytek, and Tracey A. Spencer |
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Abstract:
A
preliminary assessment of the microbial communities and biodegradation
processes for chlorinated volatile organic compounds was con-ducted
by the U.S. Geological Survey in wetlands at the Cluster 13, Lauderick
Creek area at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The U.S. Geological
Survey collected wetland sediment samples from 11 sites in the
Lauderick Creek area for microbial analyses, and used existing
data to evaluate biodegradation processes and rates. The bacterial
and methanogen communities in the Lauderick Creek wetland sediments
were similar to those observed in a previous U.S. Geological Survey
study at the West Branch Canal Creek wet-land area, Aberdeen Proving
Ground. Evaluation of the degradation rate of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane
and the daughter compounds produced also showed similar results
for the two wetlands. How-ever, a vertical profile of contaminant
concentra-tions in the wetlands was available at only one site
in the Lauderick Creek area, and flow velocities in the wetland
sediment are unknown. To better evaluate natural attenuation processes
and rates in the wetland sediments at Lauderick Creek, chemi-cal
and hydrologic measurements are needed along ground-water flowpaths
in the wetland at additional sites and during different seasons.
Nat-ural attenuation in the wetlands, enhanced biore-mediation,
and constructed wetlands could be feasible remediation methods
for the chlorinated volatile organic compounds discharging in
the Lauderick Creek area. The similarities in the microbial communities
and biodegradation pro-cesses at the Lauderick Creek and West
Branch Canal Creek areas indicate that enhanced bioreme-diation
techniques currently being developed for the West Branch Canal
Creek wetland area would be transferable to this area.
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Last Modified:
Monday, September 22, 2003
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