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Real Exposure: Field Measurement of Chemical Plumes in Headwater Streams

Edwards, David D.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1401289267

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
In fluvial systems, organismic exposure to nonpoint source pollutants will fluctuate in frequency (exposure events), intensity (concentration), and duration. The reliance on lethal concentrations and static exposure in many laboratory studies does not adequately represent nor address exposure to in situ chemical plumes of fluvial habitats. In order to adequately address field exposure in a lab setting, one needs an understanding of the physics of chemical transmission within moving fluids. Because of the chaotic nature of turbulence, chemical plumes introduced to fluvial systems have a spatial and temporal microstructure with fluxes in chemical concentration. Consequently, time - averaged static exposure models are not ecologically relevant for the major reason of in situ distribution. The purpose of this study was to quantify in situ chemical distribution and dispersion within two physically different streams. Dopamine was introduced as a chemical tracer mimicking groundwater runoff. Chemical fluxes and stream hydrodynamics were simultaneously measured using a microelectrode and an acoustic doppler velocimeter (ADV), respectively, at three heights of three downstream locations at each research site. Fine - scale measurements of the dopamine plume microstructure showed organisms could be exposed to chemical fluctuations where concentrations are significantly greater than the overall time - averaged concentration. These measurements demonstrate that rather than relying on static exposure, standards for pollution need to consider the concept of exposure being interdependently linked to flow of the fluid medium. The relationship between fluid dynamics, pollution exposure and organism physiology are complex and need to be evaluated in ways to mimic natural systems.
Paul Moore, Dr. (Advisor)
Robert Pillsbury, Dr. (Committee Member)
Shannon Pelini, Dr. (Committee Member)
41 p.
Agricultural Chemicals; Aquatic Sciences; Biogeochemistry; Biology; Biomechanics; Biophysics; Chemistry; Ecology; Environmental Engineering; Fluid Dynamics; Freshwater Ecology; Geochemistry; Hydrologic Sciences; Hydrology; Limnology; Natural Resource Management
exposure; chemical transmission; fluid dynamics; ecotoxicology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Edwards, D. D. (2014). Real Exposure: Field Measurement of Chemical Plumes in Headwater Streams [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1401289267

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Edwards, David. Real Exposure: Field Measurement of Chemical Plumes in Headwater Streams. 2014. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1401289267.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Edwards, David. "Real Exposure: Field Measurement of Chemical Plumes in Headwater Streams." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1401289267

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1401289267
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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.