Fate of perchlorate in a man-made reflecting pond following a fireworks display in Albany, New York, USA

Abstract

Perchlorate is a widespread contaminant in aquatic environments. Despite this, the aquatic environmental fate of perchlorate released from fireworks displays is not well known. In the present study, we examined the fate of perchlorate in man-made reflecting ponds, from 2008 to 2010, following three fireworks displays in Albany, New York, USA. Immediately after the fireworks display, perchlorate in pond waters increased significantly, with concentrations from 30 to 1,480 times higher than the baseline values. Perchlorate concentrations in pond water increased from 0.11 µg/L to up to 519 µg/L, following the fireworks display in 2008. Perchlorate concentrations in pond water decreased at a first-order kinetic degradation rate, with a mean k(obs) value of 0.026 d⁻¹ and an average half-life of 29 d. The rate of perchlorate deposition into water bodies following fireworks displays was estimated to range from 670 to 2,620 g/ha. We also estimated the perchlorate ingestion rate by the inhalation of aerosols of pond water by people frequently near the ponds. The estimated daily intake of perchlorate through the ingestion of aerosols was 32% (226 ng/kg body wt), 13% (92 ng/kg body wt), and 6% (42 ng/kg body wt) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's reference dose for infants, children, and adults, respectively.

Perchlorate in dust fall and indoor dust in Malta: An effect of fireworks

“…The rainfall factor will likely determine how important or otherwise, re-suspension of deposited dust can be as a significant contributor to the persistence of perchlorate in the urban environment. The half-life of perchlorate in water bodies has an average value of 29 days (Wu et al, 2011) but that in atmospheric or urban dust is unknown: it is likely much longer than that in water. This is because the species is chemically fairly inert and apparently mainly degradable by microbial action which requires humid environments (Coates and Achenback, 2004).…”

Flow behavior of perchlorate from a source lake to a water supply tap following fireworks displays

“…The half-life of perchlorate was reported to be 29 days in a reflecting pond following a fireworks display, and perchlorate concentrations were decreased to the background levels in other lakes in 20-80 days (Wilkin et al 2007;Wu et al 2011). Unlike these studies, it took only 6 days to decrease perchlorate to ,0.2 μg/L in the intake basin in Keage Water Purification Plant following the fireworks display in 2011.…”

“…Some types of perchlorate are used as oxidizers in propellants such as rockets and fireworks, and fireworks displays are considered to cause perchlorate contamination in source water (Munster et al 2009;Wu et al 2011). Perchlorate concentrations have increased approximately 1,000 times compared to the mean baseline value in a small lake in the U.S. within just 14 hours following a fireworks display (Wilkin et al 2007).…”

Placental transfer of and infantile exposure to perchlorate

“…It is a tradition in China to display fireworks and firecrackers during celebration; in Nanchang city, approximately 376 tons of fireworks trashes were generated in 2012 during the 7-day Chinese New Year celebration. The manufacture and exhibition of fireworks in China are notable sources of perchlorate in the environment (Li et al, 2014;Shi et al, 2011;Wilkin et al, 2007;Wu et al, 2011); and perchlorate-polluted environment can increase the perchlorate exposure levels in Chinese people (Li et al, 2014;Wu et al, 2010). Two thirds of fireworks factories in China are located in Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces (Fig.…”