Interference of avian guano in analyses of fuel-contaminated soils

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1996

Publication Title

Journal of Environmental Engineering

Volume

122

Issue

1

First page number:

74

Last page number:

76

Abstract

Site characterization on Johnston Island, Johnston Atoll, Pacific Ocean, has yielded preliminary data that seabird guano can be an interference in three common petroleum hydrocarbon quantification methods. Volatiles from seabird guano were measured on a hydrocarbon-specific handheld vapor meter (catalytic detector) in concentrations as high as 256 ppm by volume total hydrocarbon. Analysis of guano solids produced measurable concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) as diesel using both an immunoassay test and the EPA 8015 Modified Method. The testing was conducted on one surface sample of guano collected from a seabird roosting and nesting area. Source species were not identified. Positive hydrocarbon test results for guano raise concerns regarding the effectiveness of standard methods of petroleum-contaminated site characterization for Johnston Island, other Pacific islands, and coastal areas with historic or contemporary seabird populations.

Keywords

Guano; Hydrocarbons--Research; Johnston Island; Oil pollution of soils; Petroleum--Environmental aspects

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Environmental Engineering | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Sciences | Oil, Gas, and Energy

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

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