| Passive In-Situ Concentration Extraction samplers (PISCES) and the novel Continuous On-Site Extraction Detection (CO-SED) sampler were used in combination to identify sources of hydrocarbons, chlorinated benzenes, and PCBs in Onondaga Lake and inflowing tributaries. Hydrocarbon contaminants identified included xylenes, trialkylbenzenes, naphthalene, diphenylethanes and alkylnaphthalenes. The chlorinated compounds identified included 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene. PCBs were predominantly present as Aroclors 1232 and 1248.; Several sources of organic contaminants were identified in the lake and tributaries. Two major hydrocarbon contaminants in Onondaga Lake water were the diphenylethanes, 1-phenyl-1-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-ethane and 1-phenyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-ethane. A single source of these compounds was identified along the southwestern shore of the lake. A different shore source was found for naphthalene and other aromatic hydrocarbons. Xylenes, trialkylbenzenes, and naphthalene were the dominant hydrocarbons found in the Barge Canal. Chlorinated benzenes were entering the lake adjacent to the Causeway. PCBs were entering the lake via Ley Creek as Aroclor 1232 and near the southwestern shore of the lake as Aroclors 1232 and 1248. |
