Technical Report
Toxicity of Sediments Surrounding the Gunpowder Neck Superfund Site at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Haley, M; Anthony, J; Chester, N; Kurnas, C
Edgewood Research Development and Engineering Center Aberdeen Proving Ground MD
ADA302831. CBRNIAC-CB-028245. ERDEC-TR-268
From the late 194Os through the 196Os, the standard practice for disposing of toxic chemicals at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, was open burning. Historic records show that an open burning site was used to dispose of a variety of Army unique chemicals. This disposal site has since been placed on the National Priority List (NPt) by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the early 198Os, several environmental surveys were conducted that included soil sampling for contaminants and installation of wells for monitoring ground water contaminants. In the spring 1992, sediment samples were taken from waterways that surround that disposal area. Chemical analysis and sediment toxicity assays (Ampelisca abdita) were conducted. Toxicity comparison, with sediment leachate from an Adapted Toxicity Characteristic teaching Procedure (ATCLP), were made using Daphnia magna and a fluorescent bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum in MICROTOX assays. Amphipods showed a wide range of mortality in mud as well as coarser sediments indicating substrate preference is not critical to the outcome of the assay. Toxicity results from the leachates showed the sediments were not toxic to daphnia and MICROTOX assays.
toxicity, disposal, environmental protection, chemical analysis, environments, education, monitoring, chemicals, liquids, comparison, sites, substrates, environmental impact, combustion, ground water, soils, surveys, installation, history, sampling, con