Assessment of Rural Alaskan Solid and Wastewater Leachate

Edda Mutter University of Alaska Fairbanks

Water and Environmental Research Centereamutter@alaska.edu

Microbial & Chemical Constituent Analysis

Research Outline

Pathogen Indicator

Organisms (E.coli,

Enterococcus)

Inorganic (Metals) and Organic (Phthalates,

Biphenyl, Alkyl phenols, Polycyclic

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Pharmaceuticals,

Soil and Water Sampling in around

Dump and Wastewater sites

Identify the key stressors, which poses the greatest

threats to public health and environment

Picture: EPA Rare Project

Site Locations

Microbial and Chemical Methods

Microbial Indicator Analysis • IDEXX equipment available at

the WERC (i.e., Colilert® for E. coli, and Total Coliform; and Enterolert® for Enterococcus)

Chemical Analysis• Metals: Cation samples were

filtered (0.45 mm), acidified with HNO3 , and analyzed via ICP-MS. Anion samples were analyzed via IC.

• Organic Compounds – method development are in progress for PAH’s, phthalates, biphenyl, alkylphenols, and pharmaceuticals using HPLC-MSMS.

Alkylphenol Ethoxylate (APnEO)

• APnEO biodegraded into short-chain APnEO and alkylphenols, such as nonylphenol ethoxylates, octylphenol, and nonylphenol.

Figure: Renner et al. 1997

Source of NPnEO & NP

Commercial and industrial applied(260 million pounds of NP used in the U.S. 2002)

– Laundry detergents– Shampoos– Cosmetics– Household Cleaners– Latex Paints– Pesticides

Preliminary Microbial Results

E. ColiEnterococcus

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5 2.2 2.3

1.21.3

0.81.4

Mean Total Microbial Load Surface and Subsurface Waters

Dump

Sewage Lagoon

Control

Log

MPN

/ 10

0 m

L

Fe V Cr Mn Co Ni Cu Zn Al As Se Mo Ag Cd Sb Ba Pb Th U

0.0

0.1

1.0

10.0

100.0 Subsurface-WellDowngradient 1-50M DumpDowngradient 50-1000MUpgradient

Log

{EF}

Preliminary Metal Results

Future Steps

• Completing of method development (extraction and instrumentation) to identify the major organic waste constituent.

• Pharmaceutical trace study to identify microbial pathogens sources in and around the waste sites.

Acknowledgement

• Funding Agencies: EPA RARE, Alaska EPSCoR, NIWR USGS

• Drs. William Schnabel (UAF), Dave Barnes (UAF), Birgit Hagedorn, John Kennish, Khrys Duddleston (UAA)

• UAA ASET team (Shareen Ali, Rebekah Tee, Candice Ede, and Ben Applegate)

• EPA RARE team (Michelle Davis, Ted Jacobson, Lorraine King, Edna Beebe, Clayton Tackett, and Eric Morris).