Chemical contamination in watersheds after wildfires
Abstract
The threat of wildfires to infrastructure continues to grow, as the frequency and intensity of fires also accelerates. Higher temperatures and prolonged droughts during recent decades have extended fire season lengths worldwide and have generated larger, more intense wildfires. For example, 2020 was a significant year in terms of both number and burned area by wildfires, starting in Australia earlier and then following in the summer in the US. The US states of California and Colorado reported some of the largest fires ever recorded during the summer of 2020. Earlier work by the PI has identified the presence of benzoic acids and other organic compounds in aqueous samples after wildfires. These findings are concerning as they raise the possibility of potential exposure of communities to these compounds in water after wildfires, a situation that can also be extrapolated to Army bases, which have their own drinking water facilities and are also at potential risk of wildfires. The main objective of this proposal is to investigate potential for contamination of water supplies after wildfires, due to the formation and mobilization of organic contaminants from the combustion of biomass. Specifically, through this short-term funding request, the PI plans to conduct preliminary work on the quantification of organic contaminants from samples collected from recent wildfires near Boulder, CO. The proposed work represents an opportunity to advance the knowledge regarding impact of wildfires on water quality, specifically focusing on contamination by organic contaminants. This project will start to address the questions above by focusing initially on three key areas. First, the PI will use the support to collect fresh samples in recently burned watersheds in Colorado, and other locations as possible. Both ash and water samples will be collected from different areas. Second, the PI will develop analytical methods to quantify the concentrations of sveeral organcic contaminanst found in aqueous samples after wildfires. Lastly, the PI will analyze the samples to develop a broader understanding of the concentrations expected in environmental systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110177
Entities
People
- Fernando L Rosario-Ortiz
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Colorado Boulder