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Lake Hartwell Sediment Gas Flux Chambers
As sediment undergoes anaerobic degradation gases are released. The types, amounts, and effects of the released gases on the surrounding water column has not been fully evaluated. Gases generated by this anaerobic degradation may behave as co-solvents transporting contamination into the water column. To better understand if diffusion and/or stripping of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the sediment into the water column is occurring, gas flux chambers were designed and installed in the sediments of the lake. The flux chambers were sited at three selected sampling stations which contained increasing levels of PCB contamination - Background, M/N, and O. This research will reveal the relationship between the levels of contamination in the sediments, the volumes and components of gas generated by the sediments, and increased concentrations of contamination in the flux chamber water samples which will assist in modeling this impact on the entire lake.
Contact: Terry Lyons, USEPA (EIMS#56583)