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Report - Technical

Ecological Concerns of Exposures to Water Soluble Components of Pyrolytic Oil from Baker
Bay Tire Fire -  - The values estimated in the LSU water soluble fraction experiment
represent maximum concentrations in a closed system due to true dissolution of the
individual compounds in the pyrolytic oil. -  - In an open system, the concentrations will
be lower. -  - The results don't address transport associated with colloidal material etc.
since the test was conducted using deionized water and not actual river/estuarine water.
The later is a possible route of some (limited) food-chain uptake and exposure. We expect
that the water sampling proposed by the state will indicate low, extremely low,
concentrations of these compounds outside approximately 100 feet of the visibly
contaminated area. -  - The volume of water and the flushing rate of the water adjacent to
the contaminated area is an unknown factor. The greater the exchange rate of water, the
lower the overall water contamination levels. -  - Clearly, animals (zooplankton and
larger) are threatened within the visibly oiled zones by a combination of direct exposure
through the water column and direct contact with the pyrolytic oil itself. The primary
risk of effects to aquatic organisms is from direct contact with the pyrolytic oil.
Immediately downstream, we estimate that the exposure risk for these water soluble
compounds at low, below ppb, concentrations will be low (assuming sufficient mixing
volumes and rates). The total concentration of measured water soluble compounds is likely
to decline rapidly with dilution to below 1 ppm, at which acute toxic effects are not
expected. Within the larger estuarine ecosystem, these water soluble compounds are not
expected to bioaccumulate. Monitoring downstream for approximately five indicator
compounds of the water soluble fraction is advisable until the releases of the pyrolytic
oil and contaminated water into the environment are stopped. -  - Any discharge or
disposal of impounded water or debris may require a permit. Any oil and water collected
may require characterization and analysis and a request to transport or treat the waste
before it could be discharged back into the river or disposed of.