Assessing the presence, concentrations, and potential ecological impacts of trace metal contamination in the Potomac River Test Range Complex middle danger zone.
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| Title: | Assessing the presence, concentrations, and potential ecological impacts of trace metal contamination in the Potomac River Test Range Complex middle danger zone. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Frankel, Tyler1 (AUTHOR) tfrankel@umw.edu, Hanna, Stephen2 (AUTHOR) shanna@umw.edu, Giancarlo, Leanna3 (AUTHOR) lgiancar@umw.edu |
| Source: | Environmental Monitoring & Assessment. May2026, Vol. 198 Issue 5, p1-20. 20p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Ecological risk assessment, *Weapons testing, *Contaminated sediments, *Heavy metal toxicology, *Spatial analysis (Statistics), *Military weapons, *Riparian areas |
| Abstract: | This study evaluated the presence, spatial distribution, and ecological risk of trace metal contamination in the Potomac River Test Range Complex (PRTR) middle danger zone, a heavily utilized military testing site with over a century of munitions activity. Surface water, near-bed water, and surficial sediment samples were collected from 21 sites and analyzed for trace metals (Al, As, B, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Contamination levels were interpreted using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) for water samples and the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) for sediments. Ward's multivariate cluster analysis with silhouette optimization was applied to assess spatial relationships between contamination patterns and historical projectile-density zones. Surface waters were generally low in contamination, whereas near-bed waters exhibited higher metal concentrations with multiple sites classified as critically polluted. Sediments showed widespread anthropogenic enrichment (Igeo Classes 1–3), with elevated ecological risks (PERI) concentrated in areas of dense historical munitions activity. Cluster analyses revealed clear spatial separation between high- and low-intensity use zones, supporting a linkage between munitions testing and localized contamination. These findings demonstrate that military activities contribute measurably to metal contamination superimposed on broader watershed inputs. This study represents one of the first field-based, multi-matrix assessments of contamination within the PRTR, advancing beyond prior evaluations that utilized modeling and screening approaches. This integrated framework provides improved resolution of contamination pathways and strengthens targeted monitoring, ecological risk assessment, and management of impacted aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 193884744 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Assessing the presence, concentrations, and potential ecological impacts of trace metal contamination in the Potomac River Test Range Complex middle danger zone. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Frankel%2C+Tyler%22">Frankel, Tyler</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> tfrankel@umw.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hanna%2C+Stephen%22">Hanna, Stephen</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> shanna@umw.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Giancarlo%2C+Leanna%22">Giancarlo, Leanna</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> lgiancar@umw.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Environmental+Monitoring+%26+Assessment%22">Environmental Monitoring & Assessment</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 198 Issue 5, p1-20. 20p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+risk+assessment%22">Ecological risk assessment</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Weapons+testing%22">Weapons testing</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Contaminated+sediments%22">Contaminated sediments</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Heavy+metal+toxicology%22">Heavy metal toxicology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatial+analysis+%28Statistics%29%22">Spatial analysis (Statistics)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Military+weapons%22">Military weapons</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Riparian+areas%22">Riparian areas</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This study evaluated the presence, spatial distribution, and ecological risk of trace metal contamination in the Potomac River Test Range Complex (PRTR) middle danger zone, a heavily utilized military testing site with over a century of munitions activity. Surface water, near-bed water, and surficial sediment samples were collected from 21 sites and analyzed for trace metals (Al, As, B, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Contamination levels were interpreted using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) for water samples and the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) for sediments. Ward's multivariate cluster analysis with silhouette optimization was applied to assess spatial relationships between contamination patterns and historical projectile-density zones. Surface waters were generally low in contamination, whereas near-bed waters exhibited higher metal concentrations with multiple sites classified as critically polluted. Sediments showed widespread anthropogenic enrichment (Igeo Classes 1–3), with elevated ecological risks (PERI) concentrated in areas of dense historical munitions activity. Cluster analyses revealed clear spatial separation between high- and low-intensity use zones, supporting a linkage between munitions testing and localized contamination. These findings demonstrate that military activities contribute measurably to metal contamination superimposed on broader watershed inputs. This study represents one of the first field-based, multi-matrix assessments of contamination within the PRTR, advancing beyond prior evaluations that utilized modeling and screening approaches. This integrated framework provides improved resolution of contamination pathways and strengthens targeted monitoring, ecological risk assessment, and management of impacted aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=193884744 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s10661-026-15382-2 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 20 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Ecological risk assessment Type: general – SubjectFull: Weapons testing Type: general – SubjectFull: Contaminated sediments Type: general – SubjectFull: Heavy metal toxicology Type: general – SubjectFull: Spatial analysis (Statistics) Type: general – SubjectFull: Military weapons Type: general – SubjectFull: Riparian areas Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Assessing the presence, concentrations, and potential ecological impacts of trace metal contamination in the Potomac River Test Range Complex middle danger zone. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Frankel, Tyler – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hanna, Stephen – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Giancarlo, Leanna IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 01676369 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 198 – Type: issue Value: 5 Titles: – TitleFull: Environmental Monitoring & Assessment Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
