ES&T
LETTERS PCBs Dear Sir: Grant Weaver's article, "PCB contamination in and around New Bedford, Mass." (ES&T, Vol. 18, No. 1, 1984, pp. 22-27A) is a capable and valuable literature re view of various studies of the contami nation in the cited area. Gidley Labo ratories, Inc., has been directly involved in the chemical and environ mental investigation of major aspects of this problem for 10 years on behalf of various clients (regional planning districts, towns, utilities, marinas, state agencies, waterfront businesses, public water supply systems, waste water treatment plants, and munici pal solid waste disposal departments). From this background, in order to augment, update, and clarify the in-
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Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 18, No. 5, 1984
formation presented by Weaver, we make the following comments: • Weaver states, with respect to air pollution at the New Bedford landfill, "The release of PCBs to the atmo sphere may, however, be significant." GIDLAB's study of landfill air fal lout, 1977-1978 (/) and GCA Corpo ration ambient air monitoring study (2) revealed substantially no atmo spheric release of PCB [i.e., less than background as determined by various GIDLAB projects (3, 4)\. • Weaver states that "the sedi ments underlying the entire 440-ha New Bedford Harbor contain elevat ed levels of PCBs" but nowhere in the article is the serious concomitant pol lution cited. In a harbor study, for an electric generating plant in 1974 (5), GIDLAB found in the sediments lead at 560 ppm, copper at 1150 ppm, arse nic at 27 ppm, cadmium at 96 ppm, mercury at 11 ppm, and bacteria E. coli at over 60 000 c/100 mL in the water. • Weaver states that leachate monitoring at the New Bedford mu nicipal landfill "has not revealed . . . any significant groundwater contami nation problems... ." However, GID LAB's study and nonpoint pollution report (6) demonstrate a telltale indi cator of PCB considerably north of the site, at Shawmut Brook; and GID LAB's monthly monitoring study (1977-1978) of the entire watershed area (/), in which the landfill is sited, strongly recommended continuous leachate monitoring. Upon receipt of a copy of this report from GIDLAB, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs notified the City of New Bedford (9/27/79) rec ommending " t h a t the proposed groundwater monitoring parameters be extended to include PCBs at the landfill." • Weaver relates the high PCB values in soil and sediment on the Aerovox property. This problem is currently being rectified by an EPAapproved program (7). • In respect to Sullivan's Ledge, Weaver cites (without identification) GIDLAB's 1978 tests of a brook ema nating from this ledge area [at GID
LAB's Station 7 _(/)]. Subsequent GIDLAB tests at this same site show PCB variations in water and soil (ap parently dependent on seasonal or storm-flow conditions)—the highest water value being 2.3 ppb of PCB and 0.002 ppm of benzol. The three principal critical areas of this contamination are the New Bed ford Inner and Outer Harbor, the New Bedford Municipal Landfill, and Sullivan's Ledge. The major dan ger at all three sites is the consider ation of proposals for remedial ac tions that succumb to the knee-jerk mentality of "dig it up and ship it out." Such remedies are prohibitively costly, technically infeasible, environ mentally unsafe, and unnecessary (as much less costly, technically feasible, ,and safe remedies are possible) (β). Dr. Philip T. Gidley, FAIC, FAAAS President Gidley Laboratories, Inc. Fairhaven, Mass. References (1) "Hydrogeochemical Survey and Dewline Monitoring of PCB Leachate from the New Bedford Municipal Landfill to Protect the Public Water Supply and the Paskamansett River System of the Town of Dartmouth," GIDLAB Consolidated Report ENC-647 for the Town of Dartmouth, Mass., May 10, 1980. (2) Hunt, G.; Ford, P.; Kozik, M. "New Bed ford Environmental Investigation-Ambient Monitoring Program," GCA-TR-83-10-6, GCA Corporation, February 1983. (3) "Summary of PCB Air Fallout Data from GIDLAB Projects," Gidley Laboratories, Inc., Report for Woods Hole Océanographie Institution Conference, Oct. 8, 1981. (4) Gidley, P. T.; Gidley, J. S. "Nasketucket River Basin Survey," GIDLAB Report EN614 for Board of Public Works, Town of Fairhaven, Mass., 1976. (5) "Water Quality Study of New Bedford Inner Harbor," GIDLAB Report EN-118 for New England Gas and Electric Association, Boston, Mass., March 29, 1974. (6) "Non-Point Pollution: Categories, Causes, Consequences, Hazard Rating Criteria, Controls and Corrections," GIDLAB Report EN-799 for Southeastern (Mass.) Regional Planning and Economic Development District, Taunton, Mass., July 14, 1977. (7) "Report of the Evaluation of Remedial Alternatives for the Aerovox Property, New Bedford, Massachusetts," GHR Engineering Corp., Feb. 11, 1983. (8) "Partial Comments on New Bedford Remedial Action Plan," Gidiey Laboratories, Inc., Report for EPA Region 1, March 3, 1983.
