COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS (CSOS) AS SOURCES OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION IN THE LOWER PASSAIC RIVER, NEW-JERSEY .1. PRIORITY POLLUTANTS AND INORGANIC CHEMICALS

Ten surficial sediment samples were collected adjacent to each of four combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls along the lower Passaic River in New Jersey and analyzed for priority pollutant organic and inorgani c chemicals. The objectives of this investigation were to (1) characte rize chemical contamination in sediments impacted by these CSOs, (2) e valuate the spatial distribution of contaminants, and (3) evaluate the possible sources of contaminants within the respective CSO districts. The results indicate that sediments proximate to the CSO outfalls are contaminated with a range of chemicals including toxic metals, polycy clic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p esticides, and other organic chemicals. The spatial distribution of th ese contaminants strongly suggest that the CSOs are the primary source of contamination in sediments near these outfalls. While the contribu tion of residential waste and stormwater may be substantial. evaluatio n of the industries operating with the CSO districts provides a link b etween the facilities that discharge wastes to the combined sewer syst em and chemical contaminants found in the sediments. Until adequate co ntrols are implemented, CSOs will continue to be on-going sources of c ontamination affecting the water and sediment quality of the Passaic R iver. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.