Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds measured in Bayou Lafourche, southeastern Louisiana

Bayou Lafourche is a major tributary of the Mississippi River, being used a s part of the water diversion system and as a source of potable water for r esidents living along the bayou. The suspected presence of pollutants in th e river led to the measurement of volatile and semi-volatile organic pollut ants in water samples taken from Bayou Lafourche (southeastern Louisiana) u sing GC/MS. The area drained by the Mississippi River and bayou is entirely in the coastal zone and numerous inputs are present including a large conc entration of chemical plants. However, no organic pollutants of interest ha ving concentrations greater than the method MDL's were found at any samplin g locations. No results thus exceeded industrial discharge permit limits, ( C) 1999 Academic Press.