Environmental Assessment and Hydrocarbon Source Evaluation.  Western Shoreline, Deer Island, Boston Harbor, MA.  Confidential Client.  Analyst.
Mussel tissue and sediment were analyzed for alkylated and priority pollutant PAHs to identify the source of hydrocarbons at the impacted site and to support a site ecological risk characterization guided by protocols from the Massachusetts Contingency Plan.  Advanced fingerprinting diagnostic techniques were used to identify the source of the PAHs in the sediment and mussel tissue.

Ten Harbors Program, New England Coast, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District.  Analyst.
More than 90 sediment samples have been analyzed in seven sample delivery groups for PAH (NS&T/EMAP list), PCB congeners (NS&T/EMAP list), pesticides, metals, and TOC.  Results have been reported on a 28-day turnaround time in a Level IV data package, suitable for full data validation and with an electronic data deliverable.

Gloucester Harbor Monitoring Program, Gloucester, Massachusetts.  Confidential Client.  Analyst.
Analysis included low level measurements of volatiles (Method 8260B modified), semi-volatiles (Method 8270C modified), pesticides/PCBs (Methods 8081/8082 modified), phenols, metals, cyanide, grain size and TOC in marine sediments.  The project’s detection limits were established to permit ecological risk assessment using sediment quality guidelines. 

Waste Oil CERCLA Site, New Hampshire.  Quality Assurance Data Review.
In support of an EPA Superfund site remedial investigation, Woods Hole Group analyzed more than 300 soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment samples.  Sediments were analyzed for ultra-trace level PAHs, pesticides, metals and acid volatile sulfide/simultaneously extractable metals (AVS/SEM).  Required analyses for the other matrices included volatile petroleum hydrocarbons (VPH), extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH), TAL metals, pesticides, PCB Aroclors and TOC.  Level IV data packages were reported and validated, by a third party, along with project-specific electronic data deliverables.

Sakhalin Island Offshore Exploration Baseline Characterization, Sakhalin Island.  Confidential Client.  Laboratory Director.
Woods Hole Group Environmental Laboratories analyzed more than 400 sediment and seawater samples for petroleum hydrocarbons and related parameters in support of a baseline characterization, pre-drill survey, and initial monitoring for an international oil company.  Extract cleanup techniques using alumina chromatography were used to remove potential non-petroleum hydrocarbons from marine sediments; analysis by gas chromatography with flame ionization provided reporting limits on the order of 1 mg/Kg in sediments.  Selected samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selective ion monitoring for a comprehensive suite of decalins, alkylated PAHs, and heterocyclic hydrocarbons indicative of petroleum.  Data will be used for comparing sediment and water column measurements from future monitoring surveys. 

Caspian Sea Ecological Baseline Study, Caspian Sea.  Analyst.
In support of an ecological baseline study for an international oil company, Woods Hole Group Environmental Laboratories analyzed marine sediments and seawater samples for petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, and total phenols.  In order to provide meaningful baseline measurements, alumina cleanup and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection was employed for petroleum hydrocarbon measurements to provide reporting limits on the order of 1 mg/Kg without interference from non-petroleum hydrocarbons.  Selected samples were analyzed for PAHs by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring.  Data will be used for comparing sediment and water column measurements from future monitoring surveys. 

New Bedford Harbor - Acushnet River.  New Bedford, Massachusetts.  Laboratory Director.
Analyzed saline water and sediments from the Acushnet River for PCB congeners and for trace metals.  Project-specific protocols were developed to provide comprehensive data quality assessments for measurements of elevated concentrations of PCB congeners.  Analyses supporting water column monitoring were provided on 24-hour turnaround.

Publications and Presentations

Kane, P.J., T.C. Sauer, N. Laurianno, E.M. Hynes, C. Gauthier, J. Hart, N. Rose, and A.J. Laurila.  1998.  Hydrocarbon Characterization of Petroleum Products & Coal Tar, EPH/VPH and Beyond.  Poster presentation at 14^th Annual Conference on Contaminated Soils, Amherst, Massachusetts, 1998.