Organic priority pollutants in groundwater and surface water at three landfills in north central Florida

Abstract

The occurence of organic priority pollutants in groundwater and surface water impacted by municipal landfill leachate was studied at the Orange County Landfill in Orange County, Florida. The results of the investigation were compared to existing data from two municipal landfills in Alachua County, Florida. The investigation in Orange County evaluated existing wells and surface water stations through sampling of groundwater, surface water, sediment, and aquatic biota. Very few organic priority pollutants were detected. The constituents most frequently found were volatile organic compounds, particularly aromatic organic constituents. Volatile organic compounds were detected in groundwater at total concentrations of less than 100 Μg L−1. Few base/neutral and acid extractable organic priority pollutants were detected. Data from the Alachua County landfills indicated the presence of volatile organic compounds in groundwater at both landfill sites but few organic priority pollutants in the base/neutral and acid extractable group were fouund. Any organic priority pollutants that were present in the solid waste as deposited were likely metabolized by microorganisms or otherwise degraded, sorbed on particulate matter, or diluted to such an extent as to be non-detected.