U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Study Design and Analytical Results Used to

Evaluate Carry-Over Contamination by Volatile 

Organic Compounds in Surface- and Ground-Water 

Sampling Procedures

1

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Contract Student

2

U.S. Geological Survey, Rapid City, S. Dak.

Open-File Report 00-384

By Brandon L. Taglioli1, Gregory C. Delzer2, and John S. Zogorski2
U.S. Department of the Interior

Bruce Babbitt, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Charles G. Groat, Director

The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and 

does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Rapid City, South Dakota: 2001

For additional information write to:

District Chief

U.S. Geological Survey

1608 Mt. View Road

Rapid City, SD 57702

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey

Information Services

Box 25286

Denver, CO 80225-0286
FOREWORD

Foreword III

The mission of the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) is to assess the quantity and quality of the 

earth resources of the Nation and to provide information that will assist resource managers and policymakers at Federal, State, and local levels in making 

sound decisions. Assessment of water-quality conditions and trends is an important part of this overall 

mission.

One of the greatest challenges faced by waterresources scientists is acquiring reliable information 

that will guide the use and protection of the Nation’s 

water resources. That challenge is being addressed by 

Federal, State, interstate, and local water-resource 

agencies and by many academic institutions. These 

organizations are collecting water-quality data for a 

host of purposes that include: compliance with permits 

and water-supply standards; development of remediation plans for a specific contamination problem; operational decisions on industrial, wastewater, or watersupply facilities; and research on factors that affect 

water quality. An additional need for water-quality 

information is to provide a basis on which regional 

and national-level policy decisions can be based. Wise 

decisions must be based on sound information. As a 

society we need to know whether certain types of 

water-quality problems are isolated or ubiquitous, 

whether there are significant differences in conditions 

among regions, whether the conditions are changing 

over time, and why these conditions change from 

place to place and over time. The information can be 

used to help determine the efficacy of existing waterquality policies and to help analysts determine the 

need for and likely consequences of new policies.

To address these needs, the Congress appropriated funds in 1986 for the USGS to begin a pilot 

program in seven project areas to develop and refine 

the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) 

Program. In 1991, the USGS began full implementation of the program. The NAWQA Program builds 

upon an existing base of water-quality studies of the 

USGS, as well as those of other Federal, State, and 

local agencies. The objectives of the NAWQA 

Program are to:

• Describe current water-quality conditions for a 

large part of the Nation’s freshwater streams, rivers, 

and aquifers.

• Describe how water quality is changing over 

time.

• Improve understanding of the primary natural 

and human factors that affect water-quality conditions.

This information will help support the development and evaluation of management, regulatory, and 

monitoring decisions by other Federal, State, and local 

agencies to protect, use, and enhance water resources.

The goals of the NAWQA Program are being 

achieved through ongoing and proposed investigations 

of 59 of the Nation’s most important river basins and 

aquifer systems, which are referred to as Study Units. 

These Study Units are distributed throughout the 

Nation and cover a diversity of hydrogeologic settings. 

More than two-thirds of the Nation’s freshwater use 

occurs within the 59 Study Units and more than twothirds of the people served by public water-supply 

systems live within their boundaries.

National synthesis of data analysis, based on 

aggregation of comparable information obtained from 

the Study Units, is a major component of the program. 

This effort focuses on selected water-quality topics 

using nationally consistent information. Comparative 

studies will explain differences and similarities in 

observed water-quality conditions among study areas 

and will identify changes and trends and their causes. 

The first topics addressed by the national synthesis are 

pesticides, nutrients, volatile organic compounds, and 

aquatic biology. Discussions on these and other waterquality topics will be published in periodic summaries 

of the quality of the Nation’s ground and surface water 

as the information becomes available.

This report is an element of the comprehensive 

body of information developed as part of the NAWQA 

Program. The program depends heavily on the advice, 

cooperation, and information from many Federal, 

State, interstate, Tribal, and local agencies and the 

public. The assistance and suggestions of all are 

greatly appreciated.

Robert M. Hirsch

Chief Hydrologist

Contents V

CONTENTS

Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Background.................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................................... 1

Study Design.......................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Surface-Water Samples.......................................................................................................................................................... 5

Sampling Procedures ................................................................................................................................................... 6

Analytical Results........................................................................................................................................................ 6

Ground-Water Samples.......................................................................................................................................................... 12

Sampling Procedures ................................................................................................................................................... 12

Analytical Results........................................................................................................................................................ 13

References Cited.................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................................ 19

1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3

from Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal

Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin Study Units............................................................................................ 21

2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1,

3, and 4 from the Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the

Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin Study Units............................................... 29

FIGURES

1. Map showing Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program ....................................................... 2

2. Photograph of volatile organic compound hand sampler used for collection of surface-water samples.................... 5

3. Graph showing comparison of concentrations of 87 volatile organic compounds in samples

collected using a volatile organic compound hand sampler, which was exposed to low levels of VOCs

during the prior decontamination process, and a hand-dipped sample....................................................................... 11

4. Typical ground-water sampling configuration............................................................................................................ 12

TABLES

1. Volatile organic compounds analyzed as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National

Water-Quality Assessment Program ....................................................................................................................... 3

2. Summary of surface-water samples collected and used for evaluation of carry-over contamination..................... 6

3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in spiked, nitrogen-purged VOCgrade water (sample 1) from three Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program................... 7

4. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in surface-water samples 2 and 3

from three Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program......................................................... 10

5. Summary of ground-water samples collected and used for evaluation of carry-over contamination ..................... 13

6. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in ground-water sample 2 from

three Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program ................................................................. 14

7. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in ground-water samples 1, 3,

and 4 from three Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program............................................... 17
Contents VI

CONVERSION FACTORS

Multiply By To obtain

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer
Introduction 1

Study Design and Analytical Results Used to Evaluate

Carry-Over Contamination by Volatile Organic Compounds

in Surface- and Ground-Water Sampling Procedures

By Brandon L. Taglioli, Gregory C. Delzer, and John S. Zogorski

ABSTRACT

The study described in this report was 

designed to determine the magnitude, if any, of 

carry-over contamination of volatile organic 

compounds (VOCs) in environmental samples 

resulting from contaminated source solution used 

to clean the sampling equipment. In general, the 

study compared the presence of VOCs in environmental samples collected using clean samplers 

with environmental samples collected after the 

samplers had been exposed to small concentrations of VOCs during the routine decontamination 

process. This report documents the study design 

and presents analytical results from a total of five 

surface-water samples and six ground-water 

samples to evaluate carry-over contamination. 

Results indicate that the VOCs did not carry over 

from the source solution used to clean sampling 

equipment to surface-water and ground-water 

samples collected subsequently. However, additional evaluation of carry-over contamination of 

methylbenzene in ground-water samples may be 

warranted.

INTRODUCTION

Background

Prior to August 1997, some volatile organic 

compounds (VOCs) were detected frequently in the 

source solution used by the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment 

(NAWQA) Program to collect VOC blank samples. 

This source solution (hereinafter termed non-nitrogenpurged VOC-grade water) was commercially available. 

Several of the VOCs present in the non-nitrogenpurged VOC-grade water and respective blank samples 

also were detected frequently in environmental 

samples at similar concentrations. These concentrations were generally small—near 0.1 μg/L (micrograms per liter). Notable VOCs detected in the blank 

samples, non-nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water, and 

environmental samples included 2-butanone, 1,3 and 

1,4-dimethylbenzene, dithiocarbonic anhydride, ethylbenzene, methylbenzene, and 2-propanone.

Similar concentrations of VOCs in environmental samples and blank samples prepared using the 

non-nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water made it difficult to determine if the detections in the environmental 

sample were true environmental concentrations or 

carry-over contamination from the non-nitrogenpurged VOC-grade water used to clean the equipment. 

Therefore, a new higher quality source solution was 

prepared at the USGS National Water-Quality 

Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, Colorado, and used as 

part of onsite cleaning protocols in August 1997 and 

thereafter. This source solution is a commercially 

available pesticide-grade water that has been purged 

with nitrogen gas to remove VOCs. This water is hereinafter termed nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water.

The study described in this report was designed 

to determine the magnitude, if any, of carry-over 

concentrations of VOCs present in the non-nitrogenpurged VOC-grade water used by the USGS to clean 

sampling equipment prior to August 1997. In general, 

the study compared the presence of VOCs in environmental samples collected using clean samplers with 

environmental samples collected after the samplers had 

been exposed to small concentrations of VOCs during 

the routine decontamination process. This study was 

completed between March and October 1998.

The purpose of this report is to document the 

study design and present analytical results of the study. 
2 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Results of this study will be used to further evaluate the 

quality of VOC data collected in the NAWQA 

Program.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge and thank the many 

people that assisted in this study. In particular, the 

authors appreciate the help of project personnel from 

five USGS NAWQA Study Units who collected 

surface- and (or) ground-water samples. These Study 

Units are the Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage 

(LERI), the Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages (LINJ), the Mississippi Embayment (MISE), the 

Puget Sound Basin (PUGT), and the Upper Tennessee 

River Basin (UTEN), as shown in figure 1. The authors 

also thank the VOC section of the NWQL, who 

performed the laboratory analyses of VOC samples.

STUDY DESIGN

This study was intended to determine if the 

non-nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water used during 

equipment-cleaning procedures prior to August 1997 

contaminated subsequently collected surface- and 

ground-water samples. In addition, this study provides 

some insight about the ability of rinsing protocols to 

remove small concentrations of VOCs that may otherwise carry over from environmental sample to environmental sample. To make these determinations, the 

nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water currently used in 

equipment cleaning was spiked with as many as 87 

VOCs to achieve a theoretical concentration of

0.1 μg/L for most VOCs. This spiked water is hereinafter termed spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade 

water. Table 1 lists the 87 VOCs spiked into the 

nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water. The same analytes 

are included on the NWQL’s low-level VOC method 

(schedule 2020) that is used in the NAWQA Program.

Puget Sound

Basin

Central

 Columbia

 Plateau

Yakima River

Basin

Willamette

Basin

Yellowstone

Upper

Snake River

Basin

Sacramento

Basin

Red River

of

North Basin

Great

Salt

Lake

Basins Nevada Basin

and Range

Santa

Ana

Basin

South

Central

Texas

Southern

High

Plains

Rio

Grande

Valley

AcadianPontchartrain

Mobile River

and

Tributaries

Ozark

Plateaus

Central

Arizona

Basins

Cook Inlet

Basin

Oahu

North

Platte

Basin

Kansas River Basin

Central Nebraska

 Basins

South Platte

Basin 

Upper Arkansas

River Basin Kentucky

River Basin

ApalachicolaChattahoocheeFlint River Basin

CanadianCimarron River

Basins

Southern

Santee

Upper

Mississippi

River

Basin

Eastern

Iowa

Basins

Western

Lake

Michigan

Drainage

Upper Illinois

River Basin

Lower Illinois

River Basin White

River

Basin

Great and

Little Miami

River

Basins

Lake ErieLake St. Clair

Drainage

AlbemarlePamlico

Drainage

Kanawha-New River Basin

Delmarva Peninsula

Potomac River Basin

Connecticut, Housatonic,

and Thames River Basins

Upper

Tennessee

River

Basin

Long Island and

New Jersey

Coastal Drainages

Hudson River

Basin

Allegheny and

Monongahela

Basins Lower

Susquehanna

River

Basin

Mississippi

Embayment

San

JoaquinTulare

Basins

Upper

Colorado

River

Basin

Northern Rockies

Intermontane

Basins

Middle Arkansas

River Basin

Trinity

River

Basin

GeorgiaFlorida

Coastal

Plain

Lower

Tennessee

River Basin

Basin

Basin

and

Coastal

Drainages

Florida

Cheyenne

and

Belle Fourche

Basins

Puget Sound

Basin

Central

 Columbia

 Plateau

Yakima River

Basin

Willamette

Basin

Yellowstone

Upper

Snake River

Basin

Sacramento

Basin

Red River

of

North Basin

Great

Salt

Lake

Basins Nevada Basin

and Range

Santa

Ana

Basin

South

Central

Texas

Southern

High

Plains

Rio

Grande

Valley

AcadianPontchartrain

Mobile River

and

Tributaries

Ozark

Plateaus

Central

Arizona

Basins

Cook Inlet

Basin

Oahu

North

Platte

Basin

Kansas River Basin

Central Nebraska

 Basins

South Platte

Basin 

Upper Arkansas

River Basin Kentucky

River Basin

ApalachicolaChattahoocheeFlint River Basin

CanadianCimarron River

Basins

Southern

Santee

Upper

Mississippi

River

Basin

Eastern

Iowa

Basins

Western

Lake

Michigan

Drainage

Upper Illinois

River Basin

Lower Illinois

River Basin White

River

Basin

Great and

Little Miami

River

Basins

Lake ErieLake St. Clair

Drainage

AlbemarlePamlico

Drainage

Kanawha-New River Basin

Delmarva Peninsula

Delaware River Basin

Potomac River Basin

Connecticut, Housatonic,

and Thames River Basins

New England

Coastal Basins

Upper

Tennessee

River

Basin

Long Island and

New Jersey

Coastal Drainages

Hudson River

Basin

Allegheny and

Monongahela

Basins Lower

Susquehanna

River

Basin

Mississippi

Embayment

San

JoaquinTulare

Basins

Upper

Colorado

River

Basin

Northern Rockies

Intermontane

Basins

Middle Arkansas

River Basin

Trinity

River

Basin

GeorgiaFlorida

Coastal

Plain

Lower

Tennessee

River Basin

Basin Cheyenne

and

Belle Fourche

Basins

Florida

Basin

and

Coastal

Drainages

Figure 1. Location of National Water-Quality Assessment Program Study Units and their proposed implementation

dates (modified from Gilliom and others, 1995).

NOTE: Study units in bold participated in the collection of

 surface- and (or) ground-water samples.

BEGAN IN 1991

BEGAN IN 1994

BEGAN IN 1997

 BEGAN IN FISCAL YEAR 1999

NOT SCHEDULED YET

HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL GROUND WATER STUDY

EXPLANATION

0 200 400 MILES

0 200 400 KILOMETERS
Study Design 3

Table 1. Volatile organic compounds analyzed as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment 

Program

[Compounds are identified by the following: PCODE, U.S. Geological Survey parameter code; CAS number, Chemical Abstract Services number; IUPAC 

compound name, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry compound name]

PCODE CAS

number IUPAC compound name PCODE CASnumber IUPAC compound name

Target Analytes

34030 71-43-2 Benzene (C6H6) 34541 78-87-5 1,2-Dichloropropane (C3H6Cl2)

(propylene dichloride)

32101 75-27-4 Bromodichloromethane (CHBrCl2)

(dichlorobromomethane)

34704 10061-01-5 cis-1,3-Dichloropropene (C3H4Cl2)

((Z)-1,3-dichloropropene)

50002 593-60-2 Bromoethene (C2H3Br)

(vinyl bromide)

34699 10061-02-6 trans-1,3-Dichloropropene (C3H4Cl2)

((E)-1,3-dichloropropene)

34413 74-83-9 Bromomethane (CH3Br)

(methyl bromide)

77135 95-47-6 1,2-Dimethylbenzene (C8H10)

(o-xylene)

77342 104-51-8 n-Butylbenzene (C10H14)

(1-phenylbutane)

85795 108-38-3 1,3-Dimethylbenzene (C8H10)

(m-xylene) and

34301 108-90-7 Chlorobenzene (C6H5Cl)

(monochlorobenzene)

106-42-3 1,4-Dimethylbenzene (C8H10)

(p-xylene)

34311 75-00-3 Chloroethane (C2H5Cl)

(ethyl chloride)

77128 100-42-5 Ethenylbenzene (C8H8)

(styrene)

39175 75-01-4 Chloroethene (C2H3Cl)

(vinyl chloride)

50004 637-92-3 2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane (C6H14O)

(ethyl tert-butyl ether, ETBE)

34418 74-87-3 Chloromethane (CH3Cl)

(methyl chloride)

34371 100-41-4 Ethylbenzene (C8H10)

(phenylethane)

82625 96-12-8 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (C3H5Br2Cl)

(dibromochloropropane, DBCP)

39702 87-68-3 1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (C4Cl6)

(hexachlorobutadiene)

32105 124-48-1 Dibromochloromethane (CHBr2Cl)

(chlorodibromomethane)

34396 67-72-1 1,1,1,2,2,2-Hexachloroethane (C2Cl6)

(carbon hexachloride)

77651 106-93-4 1,2-Dibromoethane (C2H4Br2)

(ethylene dibromide, EDB)

50005 994-05-8 2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane (C6H14O)

(tert-amyl methyl ether, TAME)

34536 95-50-1 1,2-Dichlorobenzene (C6H4Cl2)

(o-dichlorobenzene)

78032 1634-04-4 2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane (C5H12O)

(methyl tert-butyl ether, MTBE)

34566 541-73-1 1,3-Dichlorobenzene (C6H4Cl2)

(m-dichlorobenzene)

34010 108-88-3 Methylbenzene (C7H8)

(toluene)

34571 106-46-7 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (C6H4Cl2)

(p-dichlorobenzene)

77223 98-82-8 (1-Methylethyl)benzene (C9H12)

(isopropylbenzene)

34668 75-71-8 Dichlorodifluoromethane (CCl2F2)

(CFC 12)

34696 91-20-3 Naphthalene (C10H8)

(arrylonitrite)

34496 75-34-3 1,1-Dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2)

(ethylidene chloride)

81577 108-20-3 2,2’-Oxybis[propane] (C6H14O)

(diisopropyl ether, DIPE)

32103 107-06-2 1,2-Dichloroethane (C2H4Cl2)

(ethylene dichloride)

342101 107-02-8 2-Propenal (C3H4O)

(acrolein)

34501 75-35-4 1,1-Dichloroethene (C2H2Cl2)

(vinylidene chloride)

34215 107-13-1 2-Propenenitrile (C3H3N)

77093 156-59-2 cis-1,2-Dichloroethene (C2H2Cl2)

((Z)-1,2-dichloroethene)

77224 103-65-1 n-Propylbenzene (C9H12)

(1-phenylpropane)

34546 156-60-5 trans-1,2-Dichloroethene (C2H2Cl2)

((E)-1,2-dichloroethene)

34475 127-18-4 Tetrachloroethene (C2Cl4)

(perchloroethene, PCE)

34423 75-09-2 Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2)

(methylene chloride)

32102 56-23-5 Tetrachloromethane (CCl4)

(carbon tetrachloride)
4 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Target Analytes—Continued

32104 75-25-2 Tribromomethane (CHBr3)

(bromoform)

39180 79-01-6 1,1,2-Trichloroethene (C2HCl3)

(trichloroethylene, TCE)

77652 76-13-1 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane 

(C2Cl3F3)

(CFC 113)

34488 75-69-4 Trichlorofluoromethane (CCl3F)

(CFC 11)

77613 87-61-6 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene (C6H3Cl3) 32106 67-66-3 Trichloromethane (CHCl3)

(chloroform)

34551 120-82-1 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (C6H3Cl3) 77443 96-18-4 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (C3H5Cl3)

(allyl trichloride)

34506 71-55-6 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3)

(methyl chloroform)

77222 95-63-6 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (C9H12)

(pseudocumene)

34511 79-00-5 1,1,2-Trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3)

(vinyl trichloride)

 

Other Analytes

81555 108-86-1 Bromobenzene (C6H5Br)

(phenyl bromide)

77103 591-78-6 2-Hexanone (C6H12O)

(butyl methyl ketone, MBK)

77297 74-97-5 Bromochloromethane (CH2BrCl)

(methylene chlorobromide)

77424 74-88-4 Iodomethane (CH3I)

(methyl iodide)

81595 78-93-3 2-Butanone (C4H8O)

(methyl ethyl ketone, MEK)

77356 99-87-6 1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene (C10H14)

(p-isopropyltoluene)

77041 75-15-0 Dithiocarbonic anhydride (CS2)

(carbon disulfide)

81597 80-62-6 Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate (C5H8O2)

(methyl methacrylate)

77275 95-49-8 1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene (C7H7Cl)

(o-chlorotoluene)

78133 108-10-1 4-Methyl-2-pentanone (C6H12O)

(isobutyl methyl ketone, MIK)

77277 106-43-4 1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene (C7H7Cl)

(p-chlorotoluene)

81593 126-98-7 2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile (C4H5N)

(methyl acrylonitrile)

78109 107-05-1 3-Chloro-1-propene (C3H5Cl)

(allyl chloride)

49991 96-33-3 Methyl-2-propenoate (C4H6O2)

(methyl acrylate)

30217 74-95-3 Dibromomethane (CH2Br2)

(methylene bromide)

77350 135-98-8 (1-Methylpropyl)benzene (C10H14)

(sec-butylbenzene)

73547 110-57-6 trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene (C4H6Cl2)

((E)-1,4-dichloro-2-butene)

81576 60-29-7 1,1’-Oxybisethane (C4H10O)

(diethyl ether)

77173 142-28-9 1,3-Dichloropropane (C3H6Cl2)

(trimethylene dichloride)

81552 67-64-1 2-Propanone (C3H6O)

(acetone)

77170 594-20-7 2,2-Dichloropropane (C3H6Cl2) 77562 630-20-6 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane (C2H2Cl4)

77168 563-58-6 1,1-Dichloropropene (C3H4Cl2) 34516 79-34-5 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane (C2H2Cl4)

77353 98-06-6 (1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene (C10H14)

(tert-butylbenzene)

49999 488-23-3 1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene (C10H14)

(prehitene)

81607 109-99-9 1,4-Epoxybutane (C4H8O)

(tetrahydrofuran)

50000 527-53-7 1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene (C10H14)

(isodurene)

77220 611-14-3 1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene (C9H12)

(2-ethyltoluene)

77221 526-73-8 1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene (C9H12)

(hemimellitene)

73570 97-63-2 Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate (C6H10O2)

(ethyl methacrylate)

77226 108-67-8 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene (C9H12)

(mesitylene)

1

Not analyzed after April 30, 1998.

Table 1. Volatile organic compounds analyzed as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment 

Program–Continued

[Compounds are identified by the following: PCODE, U.S. Geological Survey parameter code; CAS number, Chemical Abstract Services number; IUPAC 

compound name, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry compound name]

PCODE CAS

number IUPAC compound name PCODE CASnumber IUPAC compound name
Surface-Water Samples 5

The analytes in table 1 are divided into two 

groups—target analytes (55 compounds) and other 

analytes (32 compounds). The compounds 1,3- and 

1,4-dimethylbenzene are listed as individual target 

analytes in table 1; however, the NWQL reports the 

concentration sum of these two compounds because 

these isomers coelute and cannot be separated by the 

purge-and-trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method (Connor and others, 1998). NAWQA 

target analytes were selected because of their known 

human-health and (or) aquatic-life concern, or because 

of their high frequency of occurrence in surface water 

and ground water, or because of their potential for 

large-scale use in commerce (Bender and others, 1999). 

The "other analytes" were included on the NWQL’s 

VOC schedule because they are analyzed as part of the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's revised 

method for drinking-water samples (Connor and 

others, 1998). The NWQL discontinued analysis of 

2-propenal as a VOC target analyte on April 30, 1998.

SURFACE-WATER SAMPLES

Prior to August 1997, surface-water equipment 

was decontaminated according to procedures specified 

in Shelton (1997). These sampling procedures indicate 

that field-equipment blank samples are to be collected 

after equipment decontamination and immediately 

before the routine surface-water sample. After 

decontamination, the sampler (fig. 2) is rinsed three 

Figure 2. Volatile organic compound hand sampler used for collection of surface-water samples.

E)

C)

F)

H)

B)

D)

G)

A)

ASSEMBLED VOC HAND SAMPLER EVALUATED FOR COLLECTION OF VOLATILE

 ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs) AND COMPONENT PARTS/RELATED ITEMS

INSIDE OF BODY OF VOC HAND SAMPLER SHOWING HOLDER FOR VOLATILE ORGANIC

 ANALYSIS (VOA) VIALS

ENGINEER'S SCALE FOR REFERENCE (APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES IN LENGTH)

BOTTOM OF VOC HAND SAMPLER LID SHOWING REPLACEABLE FILLING PORTS

VOA VIALS

CANISTER LID

CANISTER USED TO PROCESS FIELD BLANKS

REPLACEABLE AIR EXHAUST TUBE

EXPLANATION

A)

B)

C)

D)

E)

F)

G)

H)
6 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

times with native water before collection of the surfacewater sample. The surface-water phase of this study 

tests the assumption that this native-water rinsing 

process removes the residual contamination, if any, that 

may have resulted from the non-nitrogen-purged VOCgrade water used during decontamination procedures 

prior to August 1997.

Sampling Procedures

A field-blank sample was first collected from 

spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water in a stainless-steel container using the VOC hand sampler 

(sample 1). The VOC hand sampler subsequently was 

rinsed three times with the native stream water. Then, 

a surface-water sample was collected from the stream 

(sample 2) with the VOC hand sampler while a handdipped sample was collected concurrently near the 

same stream location (sample 3). Halde and others 

(1999) indicate that hand dipping a sample is statistically the same as using the VOC hand sampler. 

Occasionally, sample 3 was collected with a separate 

(pre-cleaned) VOC hand sampler. Sample 3 is representative of a surface-water sample collected according 

to procedures specified in Shelton (1997). Concentrations of carry-over VOCs from decontamination procedures to environmental samples would be characterized 

primarily through comparison of sample 2 and 

sample 3.

Each of the three samples just mentioned was 

collected on five different occasions at four different 

surface-water sites (table 2). Two samples were 

collected from one site in the LERI Study Unit, one 

sample was collected from each of two different sites in 

the LINJ Study Unit, and one sample was collected 

from one site in the PUGT Study Unit.

Analytical Results

The results of the analysis of field-blank samples 

containing spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water 

(sample 1) are listed in table 3. Detected VOC concentrations ranged from 0.0067 to 11.7 μg/L. All VOCs 

analyzed were detected in the samples from the LINJ 

and PUGT Study Units. The LERI Study Unit samples 

were spiked with a solution containing only 13 primary 

VOCs. However, this solution was contaminated with 

five additional VOCs. All 18 VOCs were detected.

The data for the VOC hand sampler that had been 

exposed to the spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade 

water (sample 2) and the hand-dipped surface-water 

sample (sample 3) are listed in appendix 1. Seventysix of the 87 VOCs analyzed were not detected in 

surface-water samples 2 and 3. Eleven VOCs—benzene; cis-1,2-dichloroethene; 1,2-dimethylbenzene; 

1,3 and 1,4-dimethylbenzene; ethylbenzene; 2-

methoxy-2-methylpropane; methylbenzene; 1,1,2-

trichloroethene; trichloromethane; and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene—were detected a total of 21 times in both 

sample 2 and sample 3 at similar concentrations 

(table 4). Three VOCs—benzene; chloromethane; and 

1,2,4-trimethylbenzene—were detected at small concentrations (less than 0.015 μg/L) in sample 3 but not 

in sample 2. Furthermore, 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane was the only VOC detected in sample 2 and not in 

sample 3.

Figure 3 compares concentrations of 87 VOCs in 

samples collected using a VOC hand sampler, which 

was exposed to low levels of VOCs during the prior 

decontamination process, with concentrations in handdipped samples. In figure 3, VOC concentrations that 

were not detected were given a value of 0.001 μg/L for 

plotting purposes. Results indicate that the VOCs did 

not carry over from the spiked, nitrogen-purged

VOC-grade water used to clean sampling equipment to 

surface-water samples collected subsequently.

Table 2. Summary of surface-water samples collected and 

used for evaluation of carry-over contamination

[VOC, volatile organic compound]

Procedure

sample

number

Description

Total

number of 

samples

collected at 

four sites

1 Field-blank sample containing 

spiked, nitrogen-purged VOCgrade water using VOC hand 

sampler.

5

2 Environmental sample collected 

using the VOC hand sampler that 

had been exposed to the spiked, 

nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water 

and rinsed three times with native 

stream water.

5

3 Environmental sample collected by 

hand dipping a sample vial or 

using a separate VOC hand 

sampler concurrently with 

sample 2.

5
Surface-Water Samples 7

Table 3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water 

(sample 1) from three Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

[All samples were spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than;

NA, not analyzed]

VOC 

(IUPAC compound name)

VOC concentrations in sample 1 from three Study Units (fig. 1)

(micrograms per liter)

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair

Drainage Study Unit

Long Island and New Jersey

Coastal Drainages Study Unit

Puget Sound

Basin

Study Unit

Site A Site A1 Site A Site B Site A 

Target Analytes

Benzene E 0.013 E 0.022 0.152 0.155 0.170

Bromodichloromethane .104 E .078 .214 .178 .185

Bromoethene <.100 <.100 .240 .279 .362

Bromomethane <.148 <.148 E .418 E .560 E .260

n-Butylbenzene <.186 <.186 .403 .524 .548

Chlorobenzene <.028 <.028 .135 .156 .141

Chloroethane <.120 <.120 .316 .375 .449

Chloroethene <.112 E .028 .180 .252 .342

Chloromethane <.254 <.254 E .594 E .800 E .780

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane <.214 <.214 .989 .857 .653

Dibromochloromethane E .092 E .066 .801 .703 .651

1,2-Dibromoethane <.036 <.036 .203 .188 .179

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <.048 <.048 .213 .194 .153

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <.054 <.054 .178 .173 .139

1,4-Dichlorobenzene E .089 .092 .169 .169 .143

Dichlorodifluoromethane <.096 <.096 E .098 E .170 E .220

1,1-Dichloroethane <.066 <.066 .257 .228 .280

1,2-Dichloroethane E .100 .097 .660 .496 .548

1,1-Dichloroethene E .052 E .043 .102 .116 .165

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene <.038 <.038 .158 .152 .168

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene <.032 <.032 .137 .139 .205

Dichloromethane <.382 <.382 1.55 1.40 1.79

1,2-Dichloropropane <.068 <.068 .268 .235 .254

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene <.092 <.092 .286 .290 .266

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene <.134 <.134 .437 .470 .421

1,2-Dimethylbenzene <.064 <.064 .144 .194 .184

1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene E .021 E .015 .295 .391 .377

Ethenylbenzene <.042 <.042 .152 .173 .143

2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane <.054 <.054 .134 .161 .168

Ethylbenzene E .081 E .065 .100 .151 .148
8 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Target Analytes—Continued

1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene <0.142 <0.142 0.332 0.371 0.371

1,1,1,2,2,2- Hexachloroethane <.362 <.362 1.41 1.51 1.01

2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane <.112 <.112 .308 .364 .331

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane .116 E .100 .394 .377 .448

Methylbenzene <.038 E .036 E .150 .154 .163

(1-Methylethyl)benzene <.032 <.032 .103 .145 .146

Naphthalene <.250 <.250 .837 .925 .748

2,2’-Oxybis[propane] <.098 <.098 .361 .330 .387

2-Propenal NA NA <250 <250 <250

2-Propenenitrile <1.23 <1.23 E 9.59 7.61 E 7.25

n-Propylbenzene <.042 <.042 .126 .142 .139

Tetrachloroethene E .057 E .041 .176 .188 E .410

Tetrachloromethane E .045 E .032 .342 .402 .255

Tribromomethane .103 E .078 .403 .370 .322

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane <.032 <.032 E .046 E .059 E .076

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene <.266 <.266 .932 .981 .805

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <.188 <.188 .610 .675 .553

1,1,1-Trichloroethane E .060 E .052 .124 .126 .165

1,1,2-Trichloroethane <.064 <.064 .269 .240 .223

1,1,2-Trichloroethene E .082 E .065 .133 .139 .168

Trichlorofluoromethane <.092 <.092 .126 .145 .220

Trichloromethane <.052 <.052 .208 .178 .198

1,2,3-Trichloropropane <.070 <.070 .348 .321 .245

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene <.056 E .007 .190 .230 .193

Other Analytes

Bromobenzene <.036 <.036 .164 .181 .131

Bromochloromethane <.044 <.044 .210 .177 .178

2-Butanone <1.65 <1.65 7.11 6.27 7.09

Dithiocarbonic anhydride <.080 <.080 .180 .198 E .340

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene <.042 <.042 .142 .162 .144

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene <.056 <.056 .188 .202 .186

Table 3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water 

(sample 1) from three Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program–Continued

[All samples were spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than;

NA, not analyzed]

VOC 

(IUPAC compound name)

VOC concentrations in sample 1 from three Study Units (fig. 1)

(micrograms per liter)

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair

Drainage Study Unit

Long Island and New Jersey

Coastal Drainages Study Unit

Puget Sound

Basin

Study Unit

Site A Site A1 Site A Site B Site A 
Surface-Water Samples 9

Other Analytes—Continued

3-Chloro-1-propene <0.196 <0.196 0.228 0.243 0.355

Dibromomethane <.050 <.050 .226 .190 .189

trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene <.692 <.692 3.72 2.81 2.21

1,3-Dichloropropane <.116 <.116 .491 .426 .417

2,2-Dichloropropane <.078 <.078 .172 .180 .236

1,1-Dichloropropene <.026 <.026 E .091 .097 .148

(1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene <.096 <.096 .285 .282 .341

1,4-Epoxybutane <1.15 <1.15 E 2.68 E 2.63 E 2.68

1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene <.100 <.100 .296 .352 .296

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.278 <.278 .999 1.04 .832

2-Hexanone <.746 <.746 3.04 2.78 2.92

Iodomethane <.076 <.076 E .320 E .300 E .310

1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene <.110 <.110 .244 .333 .323

Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.350 <.350 1.26 1.36 1.30

4-Methyl-2-pentanone <.374 <.374 1.52 1.20 1.31

2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile <.570 <.570 2.33 2.03 2.08

Methyl-2-propenoate <.612 <.612 2.39 2.17 2.34

(1-Methylpropyl)benzene <.048 <.048 .106 E .100 .136

1,1’-Oxybisethane <.170 <.170 .812 .629 .791

2-Propanone 5.29 <4.90 1.9 8.67 11.7

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane <.044 <.044 .176 .178 .164

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane <.132 <.132 .745 .615 .484

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene <.230 <.230 .728 .819 .712

1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene <.240 <.240 .828 .956 .820

1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene <.124 <.124 .470 .509 .453

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene <.044 <.044 .133 .170 .169

1 Two samples from the same site were collected from the Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage Study Unit.

Table 3. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water 

(sample 1) from three Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program–Continued

[All samples were spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than;

NA, not analyzed]

VOC 

(IUPAC compound name)

VOC concentrations in sample 1 from three Study Units (fig. 1)

(micrograms per liter)

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair

Drainage Study Unit

Long Island and New Jersey

Coastal Drainages Study Unit

Puget Sound

Basin

Study Unit

Site A Site A1 Site A Site B Site A 
10 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

 Table 4. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from three Study 

Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

[IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; ND, not detected; E, estimated]

Study Unit

(fig. 1)

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations (micrograms per liter)

Sample 2 Sample 3

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage Site A cis-1,2-Dichloroethene E 0.042 E 0.042

1,1,2-Trichloroethene E .120 E .130

Trichloromethane E .026 E .023

Site A1 cis-1,2-Dichloroethene E .017 E .022

 2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane E .190 E .170

 Methylbenzene E .056 E .053

 1,1,2-Trichloroethene E .054 E .058

 Trichloromethane E .024 E .025

Long Island and New Jersey 

Coastal Drainages

Site A Benzene ND E .011

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane E .11 ND

1,1,2-Trichloroethene E .029 E .029

 Trichloromethane E .022 E .021

Site B Benzene E .018 E .018

 1,2-Dimethylbenzene E .014 E .013

 1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene E .026 E .029

 Ethylbenzene E .009 E .010

 2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane .400 .402

 Methylbenzene E .068 E .068

 Trichloromethane E .013 E .013

 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene ND E .014

 Puget Sound Basin Site A Benzene E .009 E .009

Chloromethane ND E .011

Methylbenzene E .039 E .041

 Trichloromethane E .041 E .041

 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene E .084 .118

1 Two samples from the same site were collected from the Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage Study Unit.
Surface-Water Samples 11

0.001

0.01

0.1

1.0

0.001 0.01 0.1 1.0

VOC CONCENTRATIONS, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER, IN SURFACE-WATER

SAMPLE COLLECTED BY HAND DIPPING SAMPLE VIAL OR

DUPLICATE VOC HAND SAMPLER (SAMPLE 3)

VOC CONCENTRATION, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER, IN SURFACE-WATER 

SAMPLE COLLECTED USING A VOC HAND SAMPLER THAT HAD BEEN

EXPOSED TO SPIKED, NITROGEN-PURGED VOC-GRADE

WATER (SAMPLE 2)

DETECTED IN SAMPLES COLLECTED BY VOC HAND SAMPLER (SAMPLE 2)

 AND BY HAND DIPPING (SAMPLE 3) (21 PAIRS)

1:1 LINE

NOT DETECTED IN SAMPLES COLLECTED BY EITHER THE VOC HAND

 SAMPLER OR BY HAND DIPPING (400 PAIRS)

DETECTED IN SAMPLE 2 AND NOT DETECTED IN SAMPLE 3 (1 PAIR)

DETECTED IN SAMPLE 3 AND NOT DETECTED IN SAMPLE 2 (3 PAIRS)

EXPLANATION

Figure 3. Comparison of concentrations of 87 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in samples collected using a VOC

hand sampler, which was exposed to low levels of VOCs during the prior decontamination process, with concentrations

in hand-dipped samples.
12 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

GROUND-WATER SAMPLES

Prior to August 1997, ground-water equipment 

was decontaminated according to procedures specified 

in Koterba and others (1995). These protocols indicate 

field-equipment blank samples are to be collected after 

applying decontamination procedures. Well-purge criteria are part of the process in collecting ground-water 

samples. The ground-water phase of this study tests the 

assumption that the purge process removes the residual 

contamination, if any, that may have resulted from the 

non-nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water used during 

decontamination procedures prior to August 1997. 

Sampling Procedures

For this study, the well was first purged 

according to Koterba and others (1995), and an 

environmental sample was collected using a previously cleaned pump (sample 1). This sample is representative of an environmental sample collected by 

NAWQA Study Units. The pump then was removed 

from the well, and sampling equipment was decontaminated as described by Koterba and others (1995). A 

field-blank sample then was collected using the spiked, 

nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water (sample 2). The 

exterior of the pump was rinsed with nitrogen-purged 

VOC-grade water, the pump was placed back in the 

well, and the well was purged using the same flow rate 

and amount of time as in the initial purge for sample 1. 

Current (2000) decontamination protocols do not 

require the normal sampling line from the flow-through 

chamber to the collection chamber to be rinsed during 

the purging process (fig. 4). As such, the third sample 

(sample 3) was collected from the purge/waste line, 

and sample 4 was collected from the collection 

Figure 4. Typical ground-water sampling configuration.

Well or

standpipe

Sampling line (Teflon)

Teflon line

This part of line is

not normally exposed

to purge water.

Pump

Flow-through

chamber

Collection

chamber

Sample

1,2*,4

Purge/waste line

Sample 3

*Sample 2 - Pump was placed in a graduated cylinder

 for collection of a field blank
Ground-Water Samples 13

chamber. Thus, the effect of not rinsing the normal 

sampling line would be characterized through 

comparison of sample 3 and sample 4. Concentrations 

of carry-over VOCs from decontamination procedures 

to environmental samples would be characterized 

primarily through comparison of sample 1 and 

sample 4. It is important to note, however, samples 

collected from the MISE Study Unit did not include a 

sample from the well-purge/waste line (sample 3). 

Also, samples collected from MISE used a 50-ft Teflon 

line for sampling well A and a 150-ft polyethylene line 

for sampling well B.

Except as noted above, each of the four samples 

just mentioned was collected at six different wells 

(table 5). Ground-water samples for this study were 

collected from two separate well locations at each of 

three participating Study Units. Two wells were 

sampled in the LINJ, MISE, and UTEN Study Units. 

Analytical Results

Detected concentrations in the spiked, nitrogenpurged VOC-grade water (sample 2) ranged from 

0.022 to 27.6 μg/L (table 6). The data for the groundwater sample collected by NAWQA Study Units 

(sample 1), the ground-water sample collected from the 

waste line (sample 3), and the ground-water sample 

collected from the normal sampling location (collection chamber) (sample 4) are listed in appendix 2. 

Eighty-four of the 87 VOCs analyzed were not detected 

in ground-water samples 1, 3, or 4. All three samples 

from well A in the UTEN Study Unit had similar concentrations of trichloromethane (table 7). Also, none 

of the 87 VOCs listed in table 1 were detected in any of 

the three samples collected from well A in the LINJ 

Study Unit. These results indicate that the VOCs did 

not carry over from the source solution used to clean 

sampling equipment to ground-water samples collected 

subsequently. Excluding the UTEN trichloromethane 

data, three VOCs—methylbenzene, tetrachloroethene, 

and trichloromethane—were detected a total of six 

times in samples 3 and (or) 4 but not in sample 1. 

These three compounds may warrant further carry-over 

evaluation, especially methylbenzene that was found in 

sample 4 at three of the six sampled wells.

Table 5. Summary of ground-water samples collected and used for evaluation of carry-over contamination

Procedure

sample number Description

Total number of 

samples

collected from

six wells

1 Ground-water sample collected from the collection chamber before 

ground-water equipment had been exposed to spiked, nitrogenpurged VOC-grade water.

6

2 Field-blank sample containing spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade 

water.

6

3 Ground-water sample collected from the wasteline after groundwater equipment had been exposed to spiked, nitrogen-purged 

VOC-grade water.

6

4 Ground-water sample collected from the collection chamber after 

ground-water equipment had been exposed to spiked, nitrogenpurged VOC-grade water.

6
14 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Table 6. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in ground-water sample 2 from three Study Units of 

the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

[All samples were spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

VOC concentrations in ground-water sample 2 from three Study Units (fig. 1)

(micrograms per liter)

Long Island and New 

Jersey Coastal Drainages Mississippi Embayment Upper TennesseeRiver Basin

Well A Well B Well A Well B Well A Well B

Target Analytes

Benzene 0.169 0.176 0.138 0.13 0.128 0.135

Bromodichloromethane .182 .185 .155 .148 .165 .163

Bromoethene .266 .292 .198 .209 .224 .276

Bromomethane E .780 E .820 E .320 E .490 E .620 E .720

n-Butylbenzene .390 .426 .314 .118 .308 .340

Chlorobenzene .175 .181 .137 .106 .123 .119

Chloroethane .311 .344 E .099 .189 .249 .339

Chloroethene .224 .252 .168 .189 .177 .252

Chloromethane E .440 E .470 E .430 E .420 E .350 E .450

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane .779 .820 .776 .686 .644 .624

Dibromochloromethane .665 .684 .632 .566 E .085 .531

1,2-Dibromoethane .184 .187 .171 .156 .136 .160

1,2-Dichlorobenzene .176 .175 .140 E .088 .118 .139

1,3-Dichlorobenzene .167 .171 .129 E .068 1.16 .120

1,4-Dichlorobenzene .163 .167 .132 E .069 .128 .116

Dichlorodifluoromethane E .080 E .100 E .073 E .046 E .100 E .120

1,1-Dichloroethane .249 .260 .192 .194 .219 .236

1,2-Dichloroethane .471 .494 .423 .403 .520 .502

1,1-Dichloroethene .104 .120 E .085 E .083 .098 .120

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene .182 .192 .136 .139 .145 .141

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene .163 .175 .118 .119 .135 .179

Dichloromethane 1.37 1.48 1.16 1.20 1.36 1.43

1,2-Dichloropropane .268 .275 .221 .220 .214 .217

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene .261 .279 .248 .229 .209 .216

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene .383 .410 .395 .348 .426 .370

1,2-Dimethylbenzene .210 .213 .172 .127 .147 .147

1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene .392 .421 .328 .214 .290 .307

Ethenylbenzene .189 .196 .137 .106 .141 .146

2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane .171 .175 .152 .151 .142 .130

Ethylbenzene .159 .169 .132 E .090 .110 .110
Ground-Water Samples 15

Target Analytes—Continued

1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene 0.271 0.318 0.215 E 0.077 0.232 0.259

1,1,1,2,2,2-Hexachloroethane 1.32 1.42 1.24 .852 .949 .982

2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane .376 .382 .350 .327 .304 .291

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane .667 .675 .369 .525 .658 .685

Methylbenzene .173 .183 .202 .185 .129 .129

(1-Methylethyl)benzene .146 .156 .103 E .071 .095 .102

Naphthalene .579 .882 E 1.90 E 1.20 .949 .758

2,2’-oxybis[propane] .362 .383 .355 .318 .300 .297

2-Propenal NA NA NA NA NA NA

2-Propenenitrile 4.38 4.5 5.17 4.79 5.40 5.80

n-Propylbenzene .133 .147 .113 E .053 E .089 .097

Tetrachloroethene .314 .346 .218 .130 .243 .268

1,1,2-Trichloroethene .158 .173 .130 .104 .117 .132

Trichlorofluoromethane .101 .127 E .089 E .065 .117 .147

Trichloromethane .187 .194 .145 .155 .161 .164

1,2,3-Trichloropropane .685 .754 .234 .506 .665 .669

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene .200 .211 .156 .093 .148 .153

Tetrachloromethane .176 .200 .142 .112 .168 .199

Tribromomethane .381 .402 .391 .351 .330 .327

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane E .046 E .057 E .046 E .022 E .055 E .054

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene .853 .891 .836 .389 .730 .685

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene .588 .601 .556 .233 .493 .474

1,1,1-Trichloroethane .124 .140 .100 .093 .114 .137

1,1,2-Trichloroethane .232 .236 .224 .202 .201 .203

Other Analytes

Bromobenzene .174 .175 .142 .099 .128 .128

Bromochloromethane .187 .178 .146 .147 .162 .156

2-Butanone 6.98 6.96 18.40 9.52 6.75 6.43

Dithiocarbonic anhydride .187 .212 E .320 E .140 .165 .219

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene .172 .179 .124 E .074 .116 .122

Table 6. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in ground-water sample 2 from three Study Units of 

the National Water-Quality Assessment Program–Continued

[All samples were spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

VOC concentrations in ground-water sample 2 from three Study Units (fig. 1)

(micrograms per liter)

Long Island and New 

Jersey Coastal Drainages Mississippi Embayment Upper TennesseeRiver Basin

Well A Well B Well A Well B Well A Well B
16 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Other Analytes—Continued

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene 0.202 0.210 0.154 E 0.083 0.145 0.153

3-Chloro-1-propene .245 .284 .216 .235 .269 .260

Dibromomethane .187 .188 .176 .160 .161 .177

trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene E 2.20 E 2.50 E 3.60 E 3.40 E 3.40 E 3.30

1,3-Dichloropropane .445 .449 .431 .388 .382 .345

2,2-Dichloropropane .100 .121 .132 .117 .140 .174

1,1-Dichloropropene .122 .141 .096 E .071 .094 .113

(1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene .275 .301 .236 .135 .216 .236

1,4-Epoxybutane 8.13 8.23 <9.00 E 6.40 6.54 6.63

1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene .317 .331 .267 .149 .222 .231

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate .979 1.00 .959 .868 .825 .788

2-Hexanone 2.73 2.72 2.98 2.74 2.35 2.21

Iodomethane E .360 E .390 E .28 E .340 E .290 E .340

1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene .278 .302 .221 E .091 .201 .222

Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate 1.36 1.40 1.40 1.30 1.15 1.06

4-Methyl-2-pentanone 1.30 1.32 1.41 1.27 E .900 1.32

2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile 2.22 2.24 2.24 2.10 1.95 1.75

Methyl-2-propenoate 5.77 5.87 2.45 4.72 5.29 5.12

(1-Methylpropyl)benzene .125 .137 .119 E .044 E .088 .097

1,1’-Oxybisethane .615 .640 .641 .613 .586 .649

2-Propanone 27.6 25.3 13.6 21.2 E 26.0 E 27.0

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane .172 .175 .130 .126 .141 .136

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane .519 .510 .520 .473 .476 .437

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene .773 .790 E 1.00 E .470 .798 .783

1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene .715 .744 .800 .363 .672 .698

1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene .446 .461 .380 .216 .348 .351

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene .158 .169 .123 E .068 .110 .117

Table 6. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in ground-water sample 2 from three Study Units of 

the National Water-Quality Assessment Program–Continued

[All samples were spiked, nitrogen-purged VOC-grade water. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

VOC concentrations in ground-water sample 2 from three Study Units (fig. 1)

(micrograms per liter)

Long Island and New 

Jersey Coastal Drainages Mississippi Embayment Upper TennesseeRiver Basin

Well A Well B Well A Well B Well A Well B
References Cited 17

Table 7. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from three 

Study Units of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

[IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; ND, not detected; E, estimated; NA, not analyzed]

Study Unit

(fig. 1)

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations (micrograms per liter)

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4

Mississippi Embayment Well A Methylbenzene ND NA E 0.065

Well B1 Methylbenzene ND NA E .044

Well B1 Tetrachloroethene ND NA E .004

 Long Island and New Jersey 

Coastal Drainages

Well A ND ND ND ND

Well B Methylbenzene ND E 0.015 ND

Upper Tennessee River Basin Well A Trichloromethane E 0.015 E .015 E .014

Well B Trichloromethane ND E .010 ND

Methylbenzene ND E .022 E .019

1A 150-ft polyethylene sample line was used. All other samples were collected using a Teflon sampling line.

REFERENCES CITED

Bender, D.A., Zogorski, J.S., Halde, M.J., and Rowe, B.L., 

1999, Selection procedure and salient information for 

volatile organic compounds emphasized in the National 

Water-Quality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 99-182, 32 p.

Connor, B.F., Rose, D.L., Noriega, M.C., Murtagh, L.K., and 

Abney, S.R., 1998, Methods of analysis by the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Water-Quality Laboratory—determination of 86 volatile organic compounds 

in water by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, 

including detections less than reporting limits: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-829, 78 p.

Halde, M.J., Delzer, G.C., and Zogorski, J.S., 1999, Study 

design and analytical results used to evaluate a surfacewater point sampler for volatile organic compounds: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-651, 31 p.

Koterba, M.T., Wilde, F.D., and Lapham W.W., 1995, 

Ground-water data-collection protocols and procedures 

for the National Water-Quality Assessment 

Program—collection and documentation of waterquality samples and related data: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 95-399, 113 p.

Shelton, L.R., 1997, Field guide for collecting samples for 

analysis of volatile organic compounds in stream water 

for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-401, 14 p. 

APPENDICES

Appendix I 21

 

Appendix 1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin

Study Units

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Site A Site A1 or Site B

Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 2 Sample 3

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage Study Unit (fig. 1)

Target Analytes

Sample date 5-9-98 5-9-98 6-3-98

Benzene <0.064 <0.064 <0.064 <0.064

Bromodichloromethane <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096

Bromoethene <.200 <.200 <.200 <.200

Bromomethane <.296 <.296 <.296 <.296

n-Butylbenzene <.372 <.372 <.372 <.372

Chlorobenzene <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056

Chloroethane <.240 <.240 <.240 <.240

Chloroethene <.224 <.224 <.224 <.224

Chloromethane <.508 <.508 <.508 <.508

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane <.428 <.428 <.428 <.428

Dibromochloromethane <.364 <.364 <.364 <.364

1,2-Dibromoethane <.072 <.072 <.072 <.072

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <.108 <.108 <.108 <.108

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100

Dichlorodifluoromethane <.192 <.192 <.192 <.192

1,1-Dichloroethane <.132 <.132 <.132 <.132

1,2-Dichloroethane <.268 <.268 <.268 <.268

1,1-Dichloroethene <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene E .042 E .042 E .017 E.022

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

Dichloromethane <.764 <.764 <.764 <.764

1,2-Dichloropropane <.136 <.136 <.136 <.136

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene <.184 <.184 <.184 <.184

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene <.268 <.268 <.268 <.268

1,2-Dimethylbenzene <.128 <.128 <.128 <.128

1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene <.128 <.128 <.128 <.128

Ethenylbenzene <.084 <.084 <.084 <.084

2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane <.108 <.108 <.108 <.108

Ethylbenzene <.060 <.060 <.060 <.060

1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene <.284 <.284 <.284 <.284

1,1,1,2,2,2-Hexachloroethane <.724 <.724 <.724 <.724

2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane <.224 <.224 <.224 <.224

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane <.224 <.224 E .190 E .170

Methylbenzene <.076 <.076 E .056 E .053
22 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage Study Unit (fig. 1)—Continued

Target Analytes—Continued

(1-Methylethyl)benzene <0.064 <0.064 <0.064 <0.064

Naphthalene <.500 <.500 <.500 <.500

2,2’-Oxybis[propane] <.196 <.196 <.196 <.196

2-Propenal NA NA NA NA

2-Propenenitrile <2.45 <2.45 <2.45 <2.45

n-Propylbenzene <.084 <.084 <.084 <.084

Tetrachloroethene <.076 <.076 <.076 <.076

Tetrachloromethane <.176 <.176 <.176 <.176

Tribromomethane <.208 <.208 <.208 <.208

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene <.532 <.532 <.532 <.532

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <.376 <.376 <.376 <.376

1,1,1-Trichloroethane <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

1,1,2-Trichloroethane <.128 <.128 <.128 <.128

1,1,2-Trichloroethene E .120 E .130 E .054 E .058

Trichlorofluoromethane <.184 <.184 <.184 <.184

Trichloromethane E .026 E .023 E .024 E .025

1,2,3-Trichloropropane <.140 <.140 <.140 <.140

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112

Other Analytes

Bromobenzene <.072 <.072 <.072 <.072

Bromochloromethane <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088

2-Butanone <3.30 <3.30 <3.30 <3.30

Dithiocarbonic anhydride <.160 <.160 <.160 <.160

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene <.084 <.084 <.084 <.084

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112

3-Chloro-1-propene <.392 <.392 <.392 <.392

Dibromomethane <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100

trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene <1.38 <1.38 <1.38 <1.38

1,3-Dichloropropane <.232 <.232 <.232 <.232

2,2-Dichloropropane <.156 <.156 <.156 <.156

1,1-Dichloropropene <.052 <.052 <.052 <.052

(1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene <.192 <.192 <.192 <.192

1,4-Epoxybutane <2.30 <2.30 <2.30 <2.30

1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene <.200 <.200 <.200 <.200

Appendix 1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Site A Site A1 or Site B

Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 2 Sample 3
Appendix I 23

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage Study Unit (fig. 1)—Continued

Other Analytes—Continued

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <0.556 <0.556 <0.556 <0.556

2-Hexanone <1.49 <1.49 <1.49 <1.49

Iodomethane <.152 <.152 <.152 <.152

1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene <.220 <.220 <.220 <.220

Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.700 <.700 <.700 <.700

4-Methyl-2-pentanone <.748 <.748 <.748 <.748

2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile <1.14 <1.14 <1.14 <1.14

Methyl-2-propenoate <1.22 <1.22 <1.22 <1.22

(1-Methylpropyl)benzene <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096

1,1’-Oxybisethane <.340 <.340 <.340 <.340

2-Propanone <9.81 <9.81 <9.81 <9.81

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane <.264 <.264 <.264 <.264

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene <.460 <.460 <.460 <.460

1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene <.480 <.480 <.480 <.480

1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene <.248 <.248 <.248 <.248

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene <.088 <.088 <.088

 Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages Study Unit

Target Analytes

Sample date 3-17-98 3-19-98

Benzene <.064 E .011 E .018 E .018

Bromodichloromethane <.096 <.096 <.048 <.048

Bromoethene <.200 <.200 <.100 <.100

Bromomethane <.296 <.296 <.148 <.148

n-Butylbenzene <.372 <.372 <.186 <.186

Chlorobenzene <.056 <.056 <.028 <.028

Chloroethane <.240 <.240 <.120 <.120

Chloroethene <.224 <.224 <.112 <.112

Chloromethane <.508 <.508 <.254 <.254

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane <.428 <.428 <.214 <.214

Dibromochloromethane <.364 <.364 <.182 <.182

1,2-Dibromoethane <.072 <.072 <.036 <.036

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <.096 <.096 <.048 <.048

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <.108 <.108 <.054 <.054

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <.100 <.100 <.050 <.050

Appendix 1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Site A Site A1 or Site B

Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 2 Sample 3
24 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

 Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages Study Unit

Target Analytes—Continued

Dichlorodifluoromethane <0.192 <0.192 <0.096 <0.096

1,1-Dichloroethane <.132 <.132 <.066 <.066

1,2-Dichloroethane <.268 <.268 <.134 <.134

1,1-Dichloroethene <.088 <.088 <.044 <.044

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene <.076 <.076 <.038 <.038

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene <.064 <.064 <.032 <.032

Dichloromethane <.764 <.764 <.382 <.382

1,2-Dichloropropane <.136 <.136 <.068 <.068

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene <.184 <.184 <.092 <.092

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene <.268 <.268 <.134 <.134

1,2-Dimethylbenzene <.128 <.128 E .014 E .013

1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene <.128 <.128 E .026 E .029

Ethenylbenzene <.084 <.084 <.042 <.042

2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane <.108 <.108 <.054 <.054

Ethylbenzene <.060 <.060 E .009 E .010

1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene <.284 <.284 <.142 <.142

1,1,1,2,2,2-Hexachloroethane <.724 <.724 <.362 <.362

2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane <.224 <.224 <.112 <.112

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane E .110 <.224 .400 .402

Methylbenzene <.076 <.079 E .068 E .068

(1-Methylethyl)benzene <.064 <.064 <.032 <.032

Naphthalene <.500 <.500 <.250 <.250

2,2’-Oxybis[propane] <.196 <.196 <.098 <.098

2-Propenal <500 <500 <250 <250

2-Propenenitrile <2.45 <2.45 <1.23 <1.23

n-Propylbenzene <.084 <.084 <.042 <.042

Tetrachloroethene <.076 <.076 <.038 <.038

Tetrachloromethane <.176 <.176 <.088 <.088

Tribromomethane <.208 <.208 <.104 <.104

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane <.064 <.064 <.032 <.032

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene <.532 <.532 <.266 <.266

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <.376 <.376 <.188 <.188

1,1,1-Trichloroethane <.064 <.064 <.032 <.032

1,1,2-Trichloroethane <.128 <.128 <.064 <.064

1,1,2-Trichloroethene E .029 E .029 <.038 <.038

Appendix 1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Site A Site A1 or Site B

Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 2 Sample 3
Appendix I 25

 Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages Study Unit

Target Analytes—Continued

Trichlorofluoromethane <0.184 <0.184 <0.092 <0.092

Trichloromethane E .022 E .021 E .013 E .013

1,2,3-Trichloropropane <.140 <.140 <.070 <.070

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene <.112 <.112 <.056 E .014

Other Analytes

Bromobenzene <.072 <.072 <.036 <.036

Bromochloromethane <.088 <.088 <.044 <.044

2-Butanone <3.30 <3.30 <1.65 <1.65

Dithiocarbonic anhydride <.160 <.160 <.080 <.080

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene <.084 <.084 <.042 <.042

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene <.112 <.112 <.056 <.056

3-Chloro-1-propene <.392 <.392 <.196 <.196

Dibromomethane <.100 <.100 <.050 <.050

trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene <1.38 <1.38 <.692 <.692

1,3-Dichloropropane <.232 <.232 <.116 <.116

2,2-Dichloropropane <.156 <.156 <.078 <.078

1,1-Dichloropropene <.052 <.052 <.026 <.026

(1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene <.192 <.192 <.096 <.096

1,4-Epoxybutane <2.30 <2.30 <1.15 <1.15

1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene <.200 <.200 <.100 <.100

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.556 <.556 <.278 <.278

2-Hexanone <1.49 <1.49 <.746 <.746

Iodomethane <.152 <.152 <.076 <.076

1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene <.220 <.220 <.110 <.110

Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.700 <.700 <.350 <.350

4-Methyl-2-pentanone <.748 <.748 <.374 <.374

2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile <1.14 <1.14 <.570 <.570

Methyl-2-propenoate <1.22 <1.22 <.612 <.612

(1-Methylpropyl)benzene <.096 <.096 <.048 <.048

1,1’-Oxybisethane <.340 <.340 <.170 <.170

2-Propanone <9.81 <9.81 <4.90 <4.90

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane <.088 <.088 <.044 <.044

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane <.264 <.264 <.132 <.132

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene <.460 <.460 <.230 <.230

1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene <.480 <.480 <.240 <.240

Appendix 1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Site A Site A1 or Site B

Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 2 Sample 3
26 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

 Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages Study Unit

Other Analytes—Continued

1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene <0.248 <0.248 <0.124 <0.124

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene <.088 <.088 <.044 <.044

Puget Sound Basin Study Unit

Target Analytes

Sample date 4-6-98

Benzene E .0091 E .0089 NA NA

Bromodichloromethane <.048 <.048 NA NA

Bromoethene <.100 <.100 NA NA

Bromomethane <.148 <.148 NA NA

n-Butylbenzene <.186 <.186 NA NA

Chlorobenzene <.028 <.028 NA NA

Chloroethane <.120 <.120 NA NA

Chloroethene <.112 <.112 NA NA

Chloromethane <.254 E.011 NA NA

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane <.214 <.214 NA NA

Dibromochloromethane <.182 <.182 NA NA

1,2-Dibromoethane <.036 <.036 NA NA

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <.048 <.048 NA NA

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <.054 <.054 NA NA

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <.050 <.050 NA NA

Dichlorodifluoromethane <.096 <.096 NA NA

1,1-Dichloroethane <.066 <.066 NA NA

1,2-Dichloroethane <.134 <.134 NA NA

1,1-Dichloroethene <.044 <.044 NA NA

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene <.038 <.038 NA NA

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene <.032 <.032 NA NA

Dichloromethane <.382 <.382 NA NA

1,2-Dichloropropane <.068 <.068 NA NA

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene <.092 <.092 NA NA

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene <.134 <.134 NA NA

1,2-Dimethylbenzene <.064 <.064 NA NA

1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene <.064 <.064 NA NA

Ethenylbenzene <.042 <.042 NA NA

2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane <.054 <.054 NA NA

Ethylbenzene <.030 <.030 NA NA

Appendix 1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Site A Site A1 or Site B

Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 2 Sample 3
Appendix I 27

Puget Sound Basin Study Unit—Continued

Target Analytes—Continued

1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene <0.142 <0.142 NA NA

1,1,1,2,2,2-Hexachloroethane <.362 <.362 NA NA

2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane <.112 <.112 NA NA

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane <.112 <.112 NA NA

Methylbenzene E .039 E .041 NA NA

(1-Methylethyl)benzene <.032 <.032 NA NA

Naphthalene <.250 <.250 NA NA

2,2’-Oxybis[propane] <.098 <.098 NA NA

2-Propenal <250 <250 NA NA

2-Propenenitrile <1.23 <1.23 NA NA

n-Propylbenzene <.042 <.042 NA NA

Tetrachloroethene <.038 <.038 NA NA

Tetrachloromethane <.088 <.088 NA NA

Tribromomethane <.104 <.104 NA NA

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane <.032 <.032 NA NA

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene <.266 <.266 NA NA

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <.188 <.188 NA NA

1,1,1-Trichloroethane <.032 <.032 NA NA

1,1,2-Trichloroethane <.064 <.064 NA NA

1,1,2-Trichloroethene <.038 <.038 NA NA

Trichlorofluoromethane <.092 <.092 NA NA

Trichloromethane E .041 E .041 NA NA

1,2,3-Trichloropropane <.070 <.070 NA NA

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene E .084 .118 NA NA

Other Analytes

Bromobenzene <.036 <.036 NA NA

Bromochloromethane <.044 <.044 NA NA

2-Butanone <1.65 <1.65 NA NA

Dithiocarbonic anhydride <.080 <.080 NA NA

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene <.042 <.042 NA NA

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene <.056 <.056 NA NA

3-Chloro-1-propene <.196 <.196 NA NA

Dibromomethane <.050 <.050 NA NA

trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene <.692 <.692 NA NA

1,3-Dichloropropane <.116 <.116 NA NA

Appendix 1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Site A Site A1 or Site B

Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 2 Sample 3
28 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Puget Sound Basin Study Unit—Continued

Other Analytes—Continued

2,2-Dichloropropane <0.078 <0.078 NA NA

1,1-Dichloropropene <.026 <.026 NA NA

(1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene <.096 <.096 NA NA

1,4-Epoxybutane <1.15 <1.15 NA NA

1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene <.100 <.100 NA NA

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.278 <.278 NA NA

2-Hexanone <.746 <.746 NA NA

Iodomethane <.076 <.076 NA NA

1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene <.110 <.110 NA NA

Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.350 <.350 NA NA

4-Methyl-2-pentanone <.374 <.374 NA NA

2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile <.570 <.570 NA NA

Methyl-2-propenoate <.612 <.612 NA NA

(1-Methylpropyl)benzene <.048 <.048 NA NA

1,1’-Oxybisethane <.170 <.170 NA NA

2-Propanone <4.90 <4.90 NA NA

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane <.044 <.044 NA NA

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane <.132 <.132 NA NA

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene <.230 <.230 NA NA

1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene <.240 <.240 NA NA

1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene <.124 <.124 NA NA

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene <.044 <.044 NA NA

1

Two samples from the same site were collected from the Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage Study Unit.

Appendix 1. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface-water samples 2 and 3 from

Lake Erie-Lake St. Clair Drainage, Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, and Puget Sound Basin

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated;

<, less than; NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Site A Site A1 or Site B

Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 2 Sample 3
Appendix 2 29

 Appendix 2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from the

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin 

Study Units

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than; 

NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Well A Well B

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages Study Unit (fig. 1)

Target Analytes

Sample date 8-11-98 8-11-98

Benzene <0.100 <0.100 <0.100 <0.100 <0.100 <0.100

Bromodichloromethane <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048

Bromoethene <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100

Bromomethane <.148 <.148 <.148 <.148 <.148 <.148

n-Butylbenzene <.186 <.186 <.186 <.186 <.186 <.186

Chlorobenzene <.028 <.028 <.028 <.028 <.028 <.028

Chloroethane <.120 <.120 <.120 <.120 <.120 <.120

Chloroethene <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112

Chloromethane <.254 <.254 <.254 <.254 <.254 <.254

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane <.214 <.214 <.214 <.214 <.214 <.214

Dibromochloromethane <.182 <.182 <.182 <.182 <.182 <.182

1,2-Dibromoethane <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050

Dichlorodifluoromethane <.138 <.138 <.138 <.138 <.138 <.138

1,1-Dichloroethane <.066 <.066 <.066 <.066 <.066 <.066

1,2-Dichloroethane <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134

1,1-Dichloroethene <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032

Dichloromethane <.382 <.382 <.382 <.382 <.382 <.382

1,2-Dichloropropane <.068 <.068 <.068 <.068 <.068 <.068

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134

1,2-Dimethylbenzene <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

Ethenylbenzene <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042

2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054

Ethylbenzene <.030 <.030 <.030 <.030 <.030 <.030

1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene <.142 <.142 <.142 <.142 <.142 <.142

1,1,1,2,2,2-Hexachloroethane <.362 <.362 <.362 <.362 <.362 <.362

2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane <.166 <.166 <.166 <.166 <.166 <.166

Methylbenzene <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 E .015 <.054
30 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages Study Unit (fig. 1)—Continued

Target Analytes—Continued

(1-Methylethyl)benzene <0.032 <0.032 <0.032 <0.032 <0.032 <0.032

Naphthalene <.250 <.250 <.250 <.250 <.250 <.250

2,2’-Oxybis[propane] <.098 <.098 <.098 <.098 <.098 <.098

2-Propenal NA NA NA NA NA NA

2-Propenenitrile <1.23 <1.23 <1.23 <1.23 <1.23 <1.23

n-Propylbenzene <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042

Tetrachloroethene <.102 <.102 <.102 <.102 <.102 <.102

Tetrachloromethane <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088

Tribromomethane <.104 <.104 <.104 <.104 <.104 <.104

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene <.266 <.266 <.266 <.266 <.266 <.266

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <.188 <.188 <.188 <.188 <.188 <.188

1,1,1-Trichloroethane <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032

1,1,2-Trichloroethane <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

1,1,2-Trichloroethene <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038

Trichlorofluoromethane <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092

Trichloromethane <.052 <.052 <.052 <.052 <.052 <.052

1,2,3-Trichloropropane <.162 <.162 <.162 <.162 <.162 <.162

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056

Other Analytes

Bromobenzene <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036

Bromochloromethane <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044

2-Butanone <1.65 <1.65 <1.65 <1.65 <1.65 <1.65

Dithiocarbonic anhydride <.370 <.370 <.370 <.370 <.370 <.370

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056

3-Chloro-1-propene <.196 <.196 <.196 <.196 <.196 <.196

Dibromomethane <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050

trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene <.692 <.692 <.692 <.692 <.692 <.692

1,3-Dichloropropane <.116 <.116 <.116 <.116 <.116 <.116

2,2-Dichloropropane <.078 <.078 <.078 <.078 <.078 <.078

1,1-Dichloropropene <.026 <.026 <.026 <.026 <.026 <.026

(1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096

1,4-Epoxybutane <8.79 <8.79 <8.79 <8.79 <8.79 <8.79

1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100

Appendix 2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from the

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin 

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than; 

NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Well A Well B

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4
Appendix 2 31

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages Study Unit (fig. 1)—Continued

Other Analytes—Continued

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <0.278 <0.278 <0.278 <0.278 <0.278 <0.278

2-Hexanone <.746 <.746 <.746 <.746 <.746 <.746

Iodomethane <.208 <.208 <.208 <.208 <.208 <.208

1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene <.110 <.110 <.110 <.110 <.110 <.110

Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.350 <.350 <.350 <.350 <.350 <.350

4-Methyl-2-pentanone <.374 <.374 <.374 <.374 <.374 <.374

2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile <.570 <.570 <.570 <.570 <.570 <.570

Methyl-2-propenoate <1.36 <1.36 <1.36 <1.36 <1.36 <1.36

(1-Methylpropyl)benzene <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048

1,1’-Oxybisethane <.170 <.170 <.170 <.170 <.170 <.170

2-Propanone <4.90 <4.90 <4.90 <4.90 <4.90 <4.90

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane <.132 <.132 <.132 <.132 <.132 <.132

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene <.230 <.230 <.230 <.230 <.230 <.230

1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene <.240 <.240 <.240 <.240 <.240 <.240

1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene <.124 <.124 <.124 <.124 <.124 <.124

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044

Mississippi Embayment Study Unit (fig. 1)

Target Analytes

Sample date 9-10-98 9-10-98

Benzene <.100 NA <.100 <.100 NA <.100

Bromodichloromethane <.048 NA <.048 <.048 NA <.048

Bromoethene <.100 NA <.100 <.100 NA <.100

Bromomethane <.150 NA <.150 <.150 NA <.150

n-Butylbenzene <.190 NA <.190 <.190 NA <.190

Chlorobenzene <.028 NA <.028 <.028 NA <.028

Chloroethane <.120 NA <.120 <.120 NA <.120

Chloroethene <.110 NA <.110 <.110 NA <.110

Chloromethane <.250 NA <.250 <.250 NA <.250

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane <.210 NA <.210 <.210 NA <.210

Dibromochloromethane <.180 NA <.180 <.180 NA <.180

1,2-Dibromoethane <.036 NA <.036 <.036 NA <.036

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <.048 NA <.048 <.048 NA <.048

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <.054 NA <.054 <.054 NA <.054

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <.050 NA <.050 <.050 NA <.050

Appendix 2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from the

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin 

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than; 

NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Well A Well B

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4
32 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Mississippi Embayment Study Unit (fig. 1)

Target Analytes

Dichlorodifluoromethane <0.140 NA <0.140 <0.140 NA <0.140

1,1-Dichloroethane <.066 NA <.066 <.066 NA <.066

1,2-Dichloroethane <.130 NA <.130 <.130 NA <.130

1,1-Dichloroethene <.044 NA <.044 <.044 NA <.044

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene <.038 NA <.038 <.038 NA <.038

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene <.032 NA <.032 <.032 NA <.032

Dichloromethane <.380 NA <.380 <.380 NA <.380

1,2-Dichloropropane <.068 NA <.068 <.068 NA <.068

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene <.090 NA <.090 <.090 NA <.090

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene <.130 NA <.130 <.130 NA <.130

1,2-Dimethylbenzene <.060 NA <.060 <.060 NA <.060

1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene <.060 NA <.060 <.060 NA <.060

Ethenylbenzene <.042 NA <.042 <.042 NA <.042

2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane <.054 NA <.054 <.054 NA <.054

Ethylbenzene <.030 NA <.030 <.030 NA <.030

1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene <.140 NA <.140 <.140 NA <.140

1,1,1,2,2,2-Hexachloroethane <.360 NA <.360 <.360 NA <.360

2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane <.110 NA <.110 <.110 NA <.110

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane <.170 NA <.170 <.170 NA <.170

Methylbenzene <.050 NA E .065 <.050 NA E.044

(1-Methylethyl)benzene <.032 NA <.032 <.032 NA <.032

Naphthalene <.250 NA <.250 <.250 NA <.250

2,2’-Oxybis[propane] <.098 NA <.098 <.098 NA <.098

2-Propenal NA NA NA NA NA NA

2-Propenenitrile <1.20 NA <1.20 <1.20 NA <1.20

n-Propylbenzene <.042 NA <.042 <.042 NA <.042

Tetrachloroethene <.100 NA <.100 <.100 NA E.0041

Tetrachloromethane <.088 NA <.088 <.088 NA <.088

Tribromomethane <.100 NA <.100 <.100 NA <.100

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane <.032 NA <.032 <.032 NA <.032

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene <.270 NA <.270 <.270 NA <.270

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <.190 NA <.190 <.190 NA <.190

1,1,1-Trichloroethane <.032 NA <.032 <.032 NA <.032

1,1,2-Trichloroethane <.064 NA <.064 <.064 NA <.064

1,1,2-Trichloroethene <.038 NA <.038 <.038 NA <.038

Appendix 2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from the

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin 

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than; 

NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Well A Well B

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4
Appendix 2 33

Mississippi Embayment Study Unit (fig. 1)—Continued

Target Analytes—Continued

Trichlorofluoromethane <0.090 NA <0.090 <0.090 NA <0.090

Trichloromethane <.052 NA <.052 <.052 NA <.052

1,2,3-Trichloropropane <.160 NA <.160 <.160 NA <.160

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene <.056 NA <.056 <.056 NA <.056

Other Analytes

Bromobenzene <.036 NA <.036 <.036 NA <.036

Bromochloromethane <.044 NA <.044 <.044 NA <.044

2-Butanone <1.60 NA <1.60 <1.60 NA <1.60

Dithiocarbonic anhydride <.370 NA <.370 <.370 NA <.370

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene <.042 NA <.042 <.042 NA <.042

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene <.056 NA <.056 <.056 NA <.056

3-Chloro-1-propene <.200 NA <.200 <.200 NA <.200

Dibromomethane <.050 NA <.050 <.050 NA <.050

trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene <.700 NA <.700 <.700 NA <.700

1,3-Dichloropropane <.120 NA <.120 <.120 NA <.120

2,2-Dichloropropane <.078 NA <.078 <.078 NA <.078

1,1-Dichloropropene <.026 NA <.026 <.026 NA <.026

(1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene <.100 NA <.100 <.100 NA <.100

1,4-Epoxybutane <9.00 NA <9.00 <9.00 NA <9.00

1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene <.100 NA <.100 <.100 NA <.100

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.280 NA <.280 <.280 NA <.280

2-Hexanone <.700 NA <.700 <.700 NA <.700

Iodomethane <.210 NA <.210 <.210 NA <.210

1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene <.110 NA <.110 <.110 NA <.110

Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.350 NA <.350 <.350 NA <.350

4-Methyl-2-pentanone <.370 NA <.370 <.370 NA <.370

2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile <.570 NA <.570 <.570 NA <.570

Methyl-2-propenoate <1.40 NA <1.40 <1.40 NA <1.40

(1-Methylpropyl)benzene <.048 NA <.048 <.048 NA <.048

1,1’-Oxybisethane <.170 NA <.170 <.170 NA <.170

2-Propanone <5.00 NA <5.00 <5.00 NA <5.00

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane <.044 NA <.044 <.044 NA <.044

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane <.130 NA <.130 <.130 NA <.130

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene <.230 NA <.230 <.230 NA <.230

1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene <.200 NA <.200 <.200 NA <.200

Appendix 2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from the

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin 

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than; 

NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Well A Well B

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4
34 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Mississippi Embayment Study Unit (fig. 1)—Continued

Other Analytes—Continued

1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene <0.120 NA <0.120 <0.120 NA <0.120

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene <.044 NA <.044 <.044 NA <.044

Upper Tennessee River Basin Study Unit (fig. 1)

Target Analytes

Sample date 7-28-98 7-29-98

Benzene <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100

Bromodichloromethane <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048

Bromoethene <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100

Bromomethane <.148 <.148 <.148 <.148 <.148 <.148

n-Butylbenzene <.186 <.186 <.186 <.186 <.186 <.186

Chlorobenzene <.028 <.028 <.028 <.028 <.028 <.028

Chloroethane <.120 <.120 <.120 <.120 <.120 <.120

Chloroethene <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112

Chloromethane <.254 <.254 <.254 <.254 <.254 <.254

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane <.214 <.214 <.214 <.214 <.214 <.214

Dibromochloromethane <.182 <.182 <.182 <.182 <.182 <.182

1,2-Dibromoethane <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036

1,2-Dichlorobenzene <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048

1,3-Dichlorobenzene <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050

Dichlorodifluoromethane <.138 <.138 <.138 <.138 <.138 <.138

1,1-Dichloroethane <.066 <.066 <.066 <.066 <.066 <.066

1,2-Dichloroethane <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134

1,1-Dichloroethene <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032

Dichloromethane <.382 <.382 <.382 <.382 <.382 <.382

1,2-Dichloropropane <.068 <.068 <.068 <.068 <.068 <.068

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134 <.134

1,2-Dimethylbenzene <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

1,3 and 1,4-Dimethylbenzene <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

Ethenylbenzene <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042

2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054

Ethylbenzene <.030 <.030 <.030 <.030 <.030 <.030

Appendix 2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from the

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin 

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than; 

NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Well A Well B

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4
Appendix 2 35

Upper Tennessee River Basin Study Unit (fig. 1)—Continued

Target Analytes—Continued

1,1,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene <0.142 <0.142 <0.142 <0.142 <0.142 <0.142

1,1,1,2,2,2-Hexachloroethane <.362 <.362 <.362 <.362 <.362 <.362

2-Methoxy-2-methylbutane <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112 <.112

2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane <.166 <.166 <.166 <.166 <.166 <.166

Methylbenzene <.054 <.054 <.054 <.054 E .022 E .019

(1-Methylethyl)benzene <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032

Naphthalene <.250 <.250 <.250 <.250 <.250 <.250

2,2’-Oxybis[propane] <.098 <.098 <.098 <.098 <.098 <.098

2-Propenal NA NA NA NA NA NA

2-Propenenitrile <1.23 <1.23 <1.23 <1.23 <1.23 <1.23

n-Propylbenzene <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042

Tetrachloroethene <.102 <.102 <.102 <.102 <.102 <.102

Tetrachloromethane <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088 <.088

Tribromomethane <.104 <.104 <.104 <.104 <.104 <.104

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene <.266 <.266 <.266 <.266 <.266 <.266

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene <.188 <.188 <.188 <.188 <.188 <.188

1,1,1-Trichloroethane <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032 <.032

1,1,2-Trichloroethane <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064 <.064

1,1,2-Trichloroethene <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038 <.038

Trichlorofluoromethane <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092 <.092

Trichloromethane E .015 E .015 E .014 <.052 E .010 <.052

1,2,3-Trichloropropane <.162 <.162 <.162 <.162 <.162 <.162

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056

Other Analytes

Bromobenzene <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036 <.036

Bromochloromethane <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044

2-Butanone <1.65 <1.65 <1.65 <1.65 <1.65 <1.65

Dithiocarbonic anhydride <.370 <.370 <.370 <.370 <.370 <.370

1-Chloro-2-methylbenzene <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042 <.042

1-Chloro-4-methylbenzene <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056 <.056

3-Chloro-1-propene <.196 <.196 <.196 <.196 <.196 <.196

Dibromomethane <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050 <.050

trans-1,4-Dichloro-2-butene <.692 <.692 <.692 <.692 <.692 <.692

1,3-Dichloropropane <.116 <.116 <.116 <.116 <.116 <.116

Appendix 2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from the

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin 

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than; 

NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Well A Well B

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4
36 Study Design and Analytical Results Evaluating Contamination by VOCs in Sampling Procedures

Upper Tennessee River Basin Study Unit (fig. 1)—Continued

Other Analytes—Continued

2,2-Dichloropropane <0.078 <0.078 <0.078 <0.078 <0.078 <0.078

1,1-Dichloropropene <.026 <.026 <.026 <.026 <.026 <.026

(1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096 <.096

1,4-Epoxybutane <8.79 <8.79 <8.79 <8.79 <8.79 <8.79

1-Ethyl-2-methylbenzene <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100 <.100

Ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.278 <.278 <.278 <.278 <.278 <.278

2-Hexanone <.746 <.746 <.746 <.746 <.746 <.746

Iodomethane <.208 <.208 <.208 <.208 <.208 <.208

1-Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene <.110 <.110 <.110 <.110 <.110 <.110

Methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate <.350 <.350 <.350 <.350 <.350 <.350

4-Methyl-2-pentanone <.374 <.374 <.374 <.374 <.374 <.374

2-Methyl-2-propenenitrile <.570 <.570 <.570 <.570 <.570 <.570

Methyl-2-propenoate <1.36 <1.36 <1.36 <1.36 <1.36 <1.36

(1-Methylpropyl)benzene <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048 <.048

1,1’-Oxybisethane <.170 <.170 <.170 <.170 <.170 <.170

2-Propanone <4.90 <4.90 <4.90 <4.90 <4.90 <4.90

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane <.132 <.132 <.132 <.132 <.132 <.132

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene <.230 <.230 <.230 <.230 <.230 <.230

1,2,3,5-Tetramethylbenzene <.240 <.240 <.240 <.240 <.240 <.240

1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene <.124 <.124 <.124 <.124 <.124 <.124

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044 <.044

Appendix 2. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground-water samples 1, 3, and 4 from the

Long Island and New Jersey Coastal Drainages, the Mississippi Embayment, and the Upper Tennessee River Basin 

Study Units—Continued

[Bold type indicates detected compounds and concentrations. IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; E, estimated; <, less than; 

NA, not analyzed]

VOC

(IUPAC compound name)

Concentrations, in micrograms per liter

Well A Well B

Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4