Identifying fluorescent pulp mill effluent in the Gulf of Maine and its watershed

Marine Pollution Bulletin
By: , and 

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Abstract

Using fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) we characterized and modeled the fluorescence properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in samples from the Penobscot River, Androscoggin River, Penobscot Bay, and the Gulf of Maine (GoM). We analyzed excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) using an existing PARAFAC model (Cory and McKnight, 2005) and created a system-specific model with seven components (GoM PARAFAC). The GoM PARAFAC model contained six components similar to those in other PARAFAC models and one unique component with a spectrum similar to a residual found using the Cory and McKnight (2005) model. The unique component was abundant in samples from the Androscoggin River immediately downstream of a pulp mill effluent release site. The detection of a PARAFAC component associated with an anthropogenic source of DOM, such as pulp mill effluent, demonstrates the importance for rigorously analyzing PARAFAC residuals and developing system-specific models.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Identifying fluorescent pulp mill effluent in the Gulf of Maine and its watershed
Series title Marine Pollution Bulletin
DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.05.040
Volume 64
Issue 8
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) National Research Program - Central Branch
Description 10 p.
First page 1678
Last page 1687
Country United States
State Maine
Other Geospatial Gulf of Maine
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