Using Semi-Permeable Membrane Device (SPMD) Samplers in Cave

Environments to Detect PCBs Presented by: Julie Schaer

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Beaver Pond Resurgence at the West Virginia/ Virginia State Line

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Map of West Virginia Showing Site Location

Mercer County, WV

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Topographical Map of study area with overlay of Limestone Bedrock

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Limestone of Mercer County

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Cave Entrance Locations

Potential Source

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Beaver Pond Resurgence

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View Into Cave at Resurgence

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Beacon Cave Entrance

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A Walking Passage in Beacon Cave

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Assembling SPMD Housings

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Assembling SPMD Housings

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Deploying the SPMD Housings

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Topographical Map with Overlay of Beacon Cave Footprint

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Results

The SPMDs installed into Beacon Cave yielded the most significant PCB detections in the study area

The detections from SPMDs installed into Beacon Cave were approximately double that of the next highest “hits”

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Installation Challenges/ Differences from Above Ground

Packaging to transport through a cave

Finding a location with steady water

Securing SPMD samplers for surge events

Hiding the SPMD Sampler or

Labeling the SPMD Sampler for your anticipated finders

(Cavers vs. Spelunkers)

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A “DAMP” Cave

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Installation Challenges/ Differences from Above Ground

Packaging to transport through a cave

Finding a location with steady water

Securing SPMD samplers for surge events

Hiding the SPMD Sampler or

Labeling the SPMD Sampler for your anticipated finders

(Cavers vs. Spelunkers)

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Hope I don’t Run into any uh dem BATS!

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Potential Resources

National Speleological Society (NSS)

Local Grottos

Area Cavers

State Cave Surveys

West Virginia Speleological Survey (WVaSS)

Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, etc…

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Cave Map Example

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Beacon Cave System Overview

Groundwater Travel Time to Cave Name Cave Length (Ft.) Beaver Pond Resurgence

Holiday Hole 250 Unknown

KFC Cave 504 2 Days

Cole Hole 500+ Under 6 hours

Beacon Cave 15,000 Under 1 hour

Beaver Pond Cave 247 N/A

Total 16,501

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Acknowledgements and Photo Credits

Nick Schaer and George Dasher , WV DEP

West Virginia Speleological Survey (WVaSS)

Jerry Fuller

Tri-State Grotto

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