SREL Reprint #3830

Landuse and land cover shape organic contaminants distribution in the Oconee River watershed in Georgia

Srimanti Duttagupta1, Gayatri Basapuram1, William Cottrell2, and Avishek Dutta1,3

1Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens,GA, 30602, USA
2J.G. Beacham Water Treatment Plant, Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities, Athens, GA, 30601, USA
3Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA

Abstract: Amid growing concerns over the persistence of organic contaminants, this study examines the influence of land-use patterns on their distribution in the Oconee River watershed, Georgia. Surface water samples from five sites across urban, recreational, and forested areas of Georgia’sOconee River watershed were analyzed for 22 organic contaminants, including pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Contaminant concentrations varied, with Acenaphthene (max: 19,462.04 ng/L), Chrysene (max: 984.10 ng/L), and Naphthalene (max: 2428.06 ng/L) being predominant. Atrazine (max: 171.04 ng/L) and Malathion (max: 114.99 ng/L) were the most detected pesticides. Land use and land cover significantly influence organic contaminant distribution, with higher levels in forested and urban areas. Risk Quotient (RQ) analysis confirmed no contaminants surpassed the critical threshold, though cumulative exposure may pose long-term risks. The study emphasizes the need for targeted monitoring and regulatory efforts to safeguard water quality in river systems influenced by diverse land-use practices.

SREL Reprint #3830

Duttagupta, S., G. Basapuram, W. Cottrell, and A. Dutta. 2025. Landuse and land cover shape organic contaminants distribution in the Oconee River watershed in Georgia. Emerging Contaminants 1(3).

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).