James Latimer - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by James Latimer

Research paper thumbnail of The sources of PCBs to the Narragansett Bay estuary

Science of The Total Environment, 1990

ABSTRACT The major rivers and municipal treatment facilities that discharge directly into Narraga... more ABSTRACT The major rivers and municipal treatment facilities that discharge directly into Narragansett Bay have been surveyed to determine the amount of PCBs associated with their discharges under dry weather conditions. The Blackstone River, which empties into the northernmost sector of the bay system, was the largest source of riverine PCBs, contributing ∼ 70% of the 12 kg of Ar 1254 transported by the evaluated rivers per year. An additional 2.5 kg, annually, may be coming from freshwater inputs not explicitly measured in this study, giving a total fluvial input of ∼ 14 kg Ar 1254 per year. A single wastewater treatment facility, the Fields Point plant, which also discharges into the northern sector of the bay, contributed 70% of the 5.9 kg year−1 of Ar 1254 attributable to municipal inputs. Therefore, an estimated 20 kg of particulate Ar 1254 enters the bay, annually, from these sources, under dry weather conditions. Ar 1254 inputs represented ∼ 70% of the total Aroclors present in the samples (i.e., Ar 1242, Ar 1254, and Ar 1260). Of note was the almost exclusive presence of decachlorobiphenyl in the river samples.

Research paper thumbnail of Sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in urban runoff

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 1990

In an effort to provide a better understanding of the sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in urban ... more In an effort to provide a better understanding of the sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in urban runoff, petroleum products as well as probable source materials were analyzed for hydrocarbons and trace metals and then compared to urban runoff samples from four different land use areas. The petroleum products considered were No. 2 and No. 6 fuel oils, used and virgin crankcase oils, and gasoline. Source materials included street dust, roadside soil, roadside vegetation, and atmospheric fallout; and the land use categories were commercial, residential, interstate highway, and industrial areas. The samples were compared on the basis of hydrocarbon (saturated and aromatic) and trace metal (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn) loadings and distributions. Results indicated that the hydrocarbon content in runoff at all four land use sites originated primarily from used crankcase oil, with a small amount of No. 2 fuel oil detected at the industrial site. Only a small portion of the crankcase oil component came from the sources surveyed, and the majority of this oil probably came from: (1) oil drops within the driving lanes on the road surfaces or deposits in parking areas, and/or (2) direct dumping of waste crankcase oil down storm drains.

Research paper thumbnail of Stormwater runoff from highways

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 1985

... Therefore for a complete description of runoff loading rates for con-ventional pollutants to ... more ... Therefore for a complete description of runoff loading rates for con-ventional pollutants to any watershed, it is necessary to consult both EPA data (EPA, 1983) and FHA reports (eg Gupta et al., 1978). ... If this percentage is used to normalize the Gupta et al. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Fate and effects of sewage sludge in the coastal marine environment: a mesocosm experiment

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1987

Research paper thumbnail of Historical Trends and Current Inputs of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds in an Urban Estuary:  The Sedimentary Record

Environmental Science & Technology, 1996

... In addition, the observed Narragansett Bay trends are similar to trends in sediments from lac... more ... In addition, the observed Narragansett Bay trends are similar to trends in sediments from lacustrine, riverine, and other estuarine systems (14−18). ... of ∑AH (dot−dashed line, top axis), fraction resolved multiplied by 10 (RES/∑AH, solid line, bottom axis), and CPI (dashed line ...

Research paper thumbnail of Urban runoff as a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to coastal waters

Environmental Science & Technology, 1984

Particulate Standard"; US EPA Washington, DC; Office of Air Quality Planning... more Particulate Standard"; US EPA Washington, DC; Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, memorandum dated Oct 30, 1981. (10) Frank, NH; Curran, TC "Statistical Aspects of a 24-Hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Particulate Matter"; Air Pollution ...

Research paper thumbnail of Treatment of solids and petroleum hydrocarbons in storm runoff with an on-site detention basin

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1986

Storm generated runoff pollution in urban areas is a significant problem for water quality planne... more Storm generated runoff pollution in urban areas is a significant problem for water quality planners. Previous studies have characterized the inorganic and organic constituents in urban runoff (Pitt 1979 and Hoffman et al. 1982 and 1983), and it was shown that many of these pollutants are susceptible to quiescent settling and removal from the water column. Whipple and Hunter (1980)

Research paper thumbnail of Distribution of modern dinoflagellate cysts in Buzzards Bay (MA) reflects urban and suburban nutrient inputs

2002 Denver Annual Meeting, Oct 27, 2002

Concern about degradation in estuarine water quality has prompted a search for indicators that ca... more Concern about degradation in estuarine water quality has prompted a search for indicators that can be used to predict and reconstruct estuarine health. We are examining the utility of dinoflagellate cysts (or hypnozygots produced by dinoflagellates, which can be preserved in sediments) as high-resolution indicators of environmental conditions in estuaries. We measured chemical contamination and analyzed dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in surface sediments collected from three neighboring embayments of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts ...

Research paper thumbnail of Empirical relationship between eelgrass extent and predicted watershed-derived nitrogen loading for shallow New England estuaries

Seagrasses provide important ecological services that directly or indirectly benefit human well-b... more Seagrasses provide important ecological services that directly or indirectly benefit human well-being and the environment. Excess nitrogen inputs are a major cause of eelgrass loss in the marine environment.

Research paper thumbnail of The Chemistry and Toxicity of Sediment Affected by Oil from the North Cape Spilled into Rhode Island Sound

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 1999

than three million liters of No. 2 fuel oil into Rhode Island Sound near Matunuck, Rhode Island. ... more than three million liters of No. 2 fuel oil into Rhode Island Sound near Matunuck, Rhode Island. The toxicity and chemistry of this oil in two subtidal sediments were followed for more than 9 months. Maximum concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments reached 730 lgag dry weight (DW). Water samples taken immediately after the spill were phototoxic to embryos of the bivalve Mulinia lateralis. Total PAHs and toxicity to the amphipod Ampelisca abdita were high immediately after the spill, decreasing to background values (10 lgag DW and`20% mortality, respectively) after 6 months. Changes in toxicity to A. abdita related closely to changes of PAH concentrations in sediments. Weathering and degradation of the oil were followed by using ratios of PAHs, and alkanes as indicators. To distinguish eects of local boat trac from spill eects, these ratios plus distributions of PAHs in sediments from a nearby marina were used. Ó 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Research paper thumbnail of The sources of PCBs to the Narragansett Bay estuary

Science of The Total Environment, 1990

ABSTRACT The major rivers and municipal treatment facilities that discharge directly into Narraga... more ABSTRACT The major rivers and municipal treatment facilities that discharge directly into Narragansett Bay have been surveyed to determine the amount of PCBs associated with their discharges under dry weather conditions. The Blackstone River, which empties into the northernmost sector of the bay system, was the largest source of riverine PCBs, contributing ∼ 70% of the 12 kg of Ar 1254 transported by the evaluated rivers per year. An additional 2.5 kg, annually, may be coming from freshwater inputs not explicitly measured in this study, giving a total fluvial input of ∼ 14 kg Ar 1254 per year. A single wastewater treatment facility, the Fields Point plant, which also discharges into the northern sector of the bay, contributed 70% of the 5.9 kg year−1 of Ar 1254 attributable to municipal inputs. Therefore, an estimated 20 kg of particulate Ar 1254 enters the bay, annually, from these sources, under dry weather conditions. Ar 1254 inputs represented ∼ 70% of the total Aroclors present in the samples (i.e., Ar 1242, Ar 1254, and Ar 1260). Of note was the almost exclusive presence of decachlorobiphenyl in the river samples.

Research paper thumbnail of Sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in urban runoff

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 1990

In an effort to provide a better understanding of the sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in urban ... more In an effort to provide a better understanding of the sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in urban runoff, petroleum products as well as probable source materials were analyzed for hydrocarbons and trace metals and then compared to urban runoff samples from four different land use areas. The petroleum products considered were No. 2 and No. 6 fuel oils, used and virgin crankcase oils, and gasoline. Source materials included street dust, roadside soil, roadside vegetation, and atmospheric fallout; and the land use categories were commercial, residential, interstate highway, and industrial areas. The samples were compared on the basis of hydrocarbon (saturated and aromatic) and trace metal (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn) loadings and distributions. Results indicated that the hydrocarbon content in runoff at all four land use sites originated primarily from used crankcase oil, with a small amount of No. 2 fuel oil detected at the industrial site. Only a small portion of the crankcase oil component came from the sources surveyed, and the majority of this oil probably came from: (1) oil drops within the driving lanes on the road surfaces or deposits in parking areas, and/or (2) direct dumping of waste crankcase oil down storm drains.

Research paper thumbnail of Stormwater runoff from highways

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 1985

... Therefore for a complete description of runoff loading rates for con-ventional pollutants to ... more ... Therefore for a complete description of runoff loading rates for con-ventional pollutants to any watershed, it is necessary to consult both EPA data (EPA, 1983) and FHA reports (eg Gupta et al., 1978). ... If this percentage is used to normalize the Gupta et al. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Fate and effects of sewage sludge in the coastal marine environment: a mesocosm experiment

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1987

Research paper thumbnail of Historical Trends and Current Inputs of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds in an Urban Estuary:  The Sedimentary Record

Environmental Science & Technology, 1996

... In addition, the observed Narragansett Bay trends are similar to trends in sediments from lac... more ... In addition, the observed Narragansett Bay trends are similar to trends in sediments from lacustrine, riverine, and other estuarine systems (14−18). ... of ∑AH (dot−dashed line, top axis), fraction resolved multiplied by 10 (RES/∑AH, solid line, bottom axis), and CPI (dashed line ...

Research paper thumbnail of Urban runoff as a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to coastal waters

Environmental Science & Technology, 1984

Particulate Standard"; US EPA Washington, DC; Office of Air Quality Planning... more Particulate Standard"; US EPA Washington, DC; Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, memorandum dated Oct 30, 1981. (10) Frank, NH; Curran, TC "Statistical Aspects of a 24-Hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Particulate Matter"; Air Pollution ...

Research paper thumbnail of Treatment of solids and petroleum hydrocarbons in storm runoff with an on-site detention basin

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1986

Storm generated runoff pollution in urban areas is a significant problem for water quality planne... more Storm generated runoff pollution in urban areas is a significant problem for water quality planners. Previous studies have characterized the inorganic and organic constituents in urban runoff (Pitt 1979 and Hoffman et al. 1982 and 1983), and it was shown that many of these pollutants are susceptible to quiescent settling and removal from the water column. Whipple and Hunter (1980)

Research paper thumbnail of Distribution of modern dinoflagellate cysts in Buzzards Bay (MA) reflects urban and suburban nutrient inputs

2002 Denver Annual Meeting, Oct 27, 2002

Concern about degradation in estuarine water quality has prompted a search for indicators that ca... more Concern about degradation in estuarine water quality has prompted a search for indicators that can be used to predict and reconstruct estuarine health. We are examining the utility of dinoflagellate cysts (or hypnozygots produced by dinoflagellates, which can be preserved in sediments) as high-resolution indicators of environmental conditions in estuaries. We measured chemical contamination and analyzed dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in surface sediments collected from three neighboring embayments of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts ...

Research paper thumbnail of Empirical relationship between eelgrass extent and predicted watershed-derived nitrogen loading for shallow New England estuaries

Seagrasses provide important ecological services that directly or indirectly benefit human well-b... more Seagrasses provide important ecological services that directly or indirectly benefit human well-being and the environment. Excess nitrogen inputs are a major cause of eelgrass loss in the marine environment.

Research paper thumbnail of The Chemistry and Toxicity of Sediment Affected by Oil from the North Cape Spilled into Rhode Island Sound

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 1999

than three million liters of No. 2 fuel oil into Rhode Island Sound near Matunuck, Rhode Island. ... more than three million liters of No. 2 fuel oil into Rhode Island Sound near Matunuck, Rhode Island. The toxicity and chemistry of this oil in two subtidal sediments were followed for more than 9 months. Maximum concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments reached 730 lgag dry weight (DW). Water samples taken immediately after the spill were phototoxic to embryos of the bivalve Mulinia lateralis. Total PAHs and toxicity to the amphipod Ampelisca abdita were high immediately after the spill, decreasing to background values (10 lgag DW and`20% mortality, respectively) after 6 months. Changes in toxicity to A. abdita related closely to changes of PAH concentrations in sediments. Weathering and degradation of the oil were followed by using ratios of PAHs, and alkanes as indicators. To distinguish eects of local boat trac from spill eects, these ratios plus distributions of PAHs in sediments from a nearby marina were used. Ó 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.