Full Report | Fact Sheet

Contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has emerged with increasing concern in New Jersey and other states across the country. In this project, we first developed sensitive and reliable PFAS analytical methods using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and nano-electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (Nano-ESI-HRMS). Particularly, analysis by Nano-ESI-HRMS can be complementary to the standard method using LC/MS/MS, since this new approach enables the non-target screening of new PFAS features in environmental and laboratory samples. A standard operating procedure (SOP) for PFAS analysis by this newly developed Nano-ESI-HRMS was generated and attached in the appendix. Second, we further analyzed PFAS in a multimedia environment from four sites in New Jersey. The highest PFAS concentration in surface water was found near the Ringwood Superfund site downstream a waste disposal area on a foamy stream (PFOS 445.56 ng/L). The highest sediment concentration was found near the landfill in Kearny (PFOS replicate range of 3.17-5.79 ng/g). The highest plant concentration was found in Little Pine Lake (PFOS replicate range of 22.79-24.90 ng/g). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was dominantly detected in both plant samples and environmental matrices where the plants were collected, supporting the occurrence of bioaccumulation. Furthermore, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) was primarily detected in shoot samples of plants, suggesting the uptake and translocation of PFAS from the environment. Using Nano-ESI-HRMS, chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates (ClPFPECA) in soil and plant samples were screened. However, none of these samples showed significant detection of ClPFPECA, warranting further optimization of the extraction and analytical procedures for the analysis of ClPFPECA in environmental samples. Third, pairing with the observation of PFAS in the field, we characterized the biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (6:2 FTCA) by Rhodococcus jostii RHA1, a model rhizospheric bacterium. This bacterium exhibited significant biodefluorination activities that can be sustained by the amendment of carbohydrate substrates, such as glucose and fructose. Coupling with the liberation of free fluoride, a 6:2 FTUCA conjugate molecule (m/z = 696.20) was identified as an important biotransformation product of 6:2 FTCA. Such process was regulated by the presence of copper and other metallic anions, though the molecular foundations remains unknown. Collectively, findings of this study underscore the needs to investigate the PFAS contamination and attenuation in the environment and natural biota (i.e., plants and aquatic animals) in the proximity of landfills. This project has contributed to two research publications to date.

Methods for the Development of Fish Consumption Advisories in the State of New Jersey

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issues fish consumption advisories to protect public health from contaminants like mercury and PCBs found in fish. The NJDEP’s Toxics in Biota Committee (TIBC) develops and recommends these advisories, considering factors like contaminant levels, consumption frequency, and fish species. These advisories are based on scientific research and monitoring data, aiming to balance the health risks and benefits of consuming fish. The TIBC also includes a Risk Subcommittee, that’s responsible for developing risk assessments and methods for fish consumption advisory development. This document from the TIBC Risk Subcommittee provides a framework for how fish advisories are calculated for different contaminants and shared with the public.

Final Report & Fact Sheet

The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS) in Forked River, Lacey Township, NJ, closed in September of 2018. The plant exerted significant stresses on the ecological and biological
communities of Barnegat Bay during its 50 years of operation. Closure of the OCNGS provided the NJDEP the opportunity to engage with researchers to investigate ecosystem and biotic community
(i.e., phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, fish, and crabs) response pre- and post closure. This project examined how the OCNGS closure influenced phytoplankton community composition and dynamics using both light microscopy observations and DNA analyses.

Final Report & Fact Sheet

Within New Jersey, there are approximately 66,000 hectares of tidal saltwater wetlands. These wetlands are integral to the health and well-being of the residents that live within these coastal areas, as they provide a number of invaluable ecosystem services, including: carbon sequestration (Were et al., 2019), coastal storm energy reduction (Rezaie et al., 2020), flood water storage (Rezaie et al., 2020), water quality enhancement (Fisher and Acreman, 2004), and traditional and cultural significance (Pedersen et al., 2019). However, New Jersey has lost a significant portion of its coastal habitat as a result of climate change and other anthropogenic factors, such as reduced hydrological function from agricultural ditching (Smith et al., 2022). A first step to intervene in these losses is to determine vulnerable habitat as quickly, accurately, and efficiently as possible, in order to prioritize areas of marsh for protection or enhancement.

Summary Report | USGS Data Release

Soil cores were collected in 2018 at four locations in the Burlington-Bordentown-Hamilton region of central New Jersey to examine occurrences of elevated concentrations of arsenic (As), vanadium (V), and other metals at various depths in this region. Chemical analyses by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and by portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), and mineralogical studies by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) were performed on collected soil samples to evaluate geologic factors that may control the distribution of the high As and V zones in soils.

Fact Sheet | Full Report

The purpose of the project was to fill reference data gaps from tidal wetlands in New Jersey and to make monitoring data more accessible to the public. This project developed the NJ Reference Wetland Tool, filled data gaps on tidal wetland hydrogeomorphology, added a long-term tidal wetland monitoring site in the Raritan River, and developed tools that will assist standardized data collection in the future.

Fact Sheet | Full Report

The Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Generating Station (hereafter referred to as the “plant”) in Forked River, Lacey Township, NJ, closed in September of 2018. This closure caused a 95% reduction of water flow throughout the canal system used to cool the plant. Prior to closure, cooling water was drawn from and discharged back into Barnegat Bay near Barnegat Inlet, creating a heated water effluent plume with the potential to affect the thermal ecology of cold-blooded fish and invertebrates. Closure of the plant provided an opportunity to investigate ecosystem and biotic community response to shifting temperature and flow gradients pre and post-closure. This study looked at determining the changes associated with the closure of the plant on the fish and macroinvertebrate communities to assess whether the closure resulted in improved ecological conditions and supported the recovery of Barnegat Bay after this perceived stress.

Fact Sheet | Full Report

The operation of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS), located along Oyster Creek, NJ, exerted significant stresses on the ecological and biological communities of Barnegat Bay during its 50 years of operation. OCNGS negatively impacted these resources through direct destruction of planktonic organisms, redirection of water flow used in cooling the plant, and chronic thermal stress. Subsequently, closure of the plant in September of 2018 provided an opportunity to investigate ecosystem and biotic community response pre- and post-closure. This study looked at determining the changes associated with the closure of the plant on the zooplankton community to assess whether the closure resulted in improved ecological conditions and supported the recovery of Barnegat Bay after this chronic stress.

Fact Sheet | Full Report

This report synthesizes available scientific literature on the potential responses of different hydrogeological and biogeochemical processes to climate change and discusses how these processes could impact groundwater quality. This review suggests that the effects of climate change are likely to cause ephemeral and long-term impacts on groundwater quality driven by modifications of hydrogeological processes, including precipitation, groundwater recharge, discharge, capacity, and seawater intrusion. These modifications would influence biogeochemical reactions and the ultimate chemical fate and transport of contaminants, and are likely to drive the variability of both anthropogenic and geogenic contaminants.

Fact Sheet | Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the performance of different Do-it-Yourself (DIY) air cleaners, including single and multi-filter DIY air cleaner configurations with different filter thicknesses and Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) ratings. Single-filter configurations had to cost less than $50, and multi-filter configurations had to cost less than $100. The study also evaluated noise levels, motor temperatures, and power consumption of tested DIY air cleaners.

Full Report | Fact Sheet

Statistical analyses showed that the annual mercury wet deposition levels in New Jersey did not decline substantially despite new regulations that significantly reduced mercury emissions in New Jersey. To explain this and to identify possible sources of air pollution in New Jersey, a receptor modeling study was conducted. The goal of the study was identification of the major sources of fine particles (PM2.5) and mercury (Hg) in New Jersey and investigation of changes in their contributions over time. An advanced factor analysis method, Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), was used as a receptor modeling tool for the combined mercury and chemical composition particulate data set from Brigantine, New Jersey. Different sources of air pollution, such as coal and oil combustion, metal production, wood combustion, soil, and sea salt emissions, have been identified. Midwestern coal combustion was identified as a major source for PM2.5 in New Jersey. Time series for the three sources – oil combustion source with high loadings of V and Ni, coal combustion source with high loadings of SO4=, and incineration/metal production source with high loadings of Pb and Zn showed a negative trend. Major sources of the different mercury fractions have been identified as well. Time series for some of these sources, related to mercury emissions, showed a negative trend, while others exhibited no trend. Further research is necessary to determine the reasons behind the lack of decline in wet deposition of mercury. The results of the receptor modeling show that the PMF represents a useful and important tool for identifying and quantifying the sources of air pollutants.

Full Report

Cnidarians, which include jellyfish, are a critical part of New Jersey coastal ecosystems, serving as key predators and prey within the marine food web. Several taxa are increasing in number as they are tolerant to eutrophic conditions, respond favorably to increasing water temperatures associated with climate change, exploit anthropogenic habitat structures, and easily move into novel ecosystems as invasive species. Conventional habitat surveys are relatively time consuming and expensive given the range of species present, and their varied habitat associations. Environmental DNA (eDNA) overcomes these sampling limitations as it allows detection of species through the presence of their DNA within the water column rather than requiring an individual to be ‘in hand’. The value of eDNA surveys for detecting a range of aquatic organisms is now widely accepted, although its application for tracking composition of cnidarian communities is still somewhat rare. This project succeeded to establish a cnidarian eDNA pipeline for the coastal ecosystems of New Jersey through pursuit of three objectives by (1) establishing a DNA reference library of cnidarians found along New Jersey, (2) identifying a DNA region that can differentiate between the species in this library using only the eDNA fragments found in field water samples, and (3) establishing a cost-effective method for extracting DNA from cnidarian tissues and from field water samples.

Full Report | Fact Sheet

This study provides a comprehensive overview of precipitation within New Jersey from 1900 to 2020. An examination of statewide and regional means and trends is based on daily observations from National Weather Service Cooperative Stations. In addition to presenting several “traditional” means of evaluating precipitation, such as annual and seasonal values and variability, some rather unique approaches to delve into the state’s precipitation climatology are explored. This assessment is aimed widely, hoping that those within the agency will find information to assist them in their water-related monitoring and regulatory roles. A more complete understanding of the means and extremes of New Jersey precipitation will permit better-informed decisions to be made with regard to planning and responses to flooding, including flash and riverine events. It will also prove valuable to drought monitoring and associated water management. Finally, knowing how precipitation has been distributed over the past up to the present provides a valuable baseline when evaluating observed and projected precipitation patterns in upcoming years and decades.

Full Plan

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the United States and is expected to be the first state to reach build-out – where all land is either protected or developed. Wetlands are an important feature in New Jersey, covering 17% of the state and providing a plethora of ecosystem services to plant, animal, and human residents. The state has taken a multi-faceted, comprehensive, approach to managing and protecting freshwater and coastal wetlands. This five-year Wetland Program Plan is an update of the second New Jersey Wetland Program Plan. It provides a framework for the State of New Jersey to strengthen the core elements of its wetland program and to continue to reach the goals listed herein. The steps outlined will serve to direct current and future wetland protection and management efforts along a coordinated path to the benefit of New Jersey’s wetland resources and the quality of life for future generations.

Rationale Document | Guidance Document | Rationale and Guidance Documents Fact Sheet

The Bureau of Safe Drinking Water requested that the Division of Science and Research develop a rationale to explain whether predictive modeling is as effective as other methods to locate drinking water service lines made of lead. The location of lead service lines can be determined by different methods, including screening records (such as municipal codes, plumbing codes, and construction specifications), visual examination of plumbing, water quality sampling, excavation of water service line, and predictive modeling (Hensley et al. 2021). However, each of these methods provide differing levels of accuracy for predictions and differing levels of costs. In most cases, predictive models can both improve the accuracy of locating lead service lines and reduce the costs associated with replacing lead service lines by excavating fewer unnecessary (i.e., non-lead) service lines.

Addendum to the 2020 NJ Scientific Report on Climate Change | Science Advisory Board Peer Review Comments

This addendum explains how human health is likely to be directly and indirectly impacted by climate change. The impacts of climate change on human health and communities are anticipated to exacerbate existing environmental and public health disparities. The Public Health Standing Committee of the Science Advisory Board was charged with a peer review of the addendum and that is now posted online as well.

Full Report

Gonionemus vertens (Clinging Jellyfish) is a species of small hydrozoan native to the Pacific Ocean. In 2016, it appeared in New Jersey with the first individual being documented from the Manasquan Canal and subsequent individuals collected in the Shrewsbury River Estuary. Research regarding the distribution of G. vertens was conducted during the summers of 2016 and 2017 in northern Barnegat Bay, the Manasquan River, and the Shrewsbury River Estuary. While the first individual G. vertens confirmed was from the Manasquan Inlet, no other individuals were ever collected from this region nor in the northern reaches of Barnegat Bay. All individuals, including recruiting polyps, were identified from the Shrewsbury River Estuary (54 individual G. vertens medusae were collected in 2016 and 218 collected in 2017). In both years, individual polyps were collected on JADs (Jellyfish Attracting Devices), but no large-scale larval recruitment of polyps was observed, as only one single individual polyp was on a JAD during 2016 and 2017. Subsequent laboratory observations of polyp development from larvae suggest it often takes 3 to 4 months for polyps to fully develop, so it is probable that the polyps from the field JADs likely had merely climbed onto the JAD surface and were not actively recruiting there. It is clear that a well-defined population exists in the Shrewsbury River and continued blooms in the late spring and early summer are expected in the future. Since no other individuals were collected in the Manasquan and Barnegat Bay estuaries after the first individual was observed, it is unclear as to whether that observation was anomalous or whether another population remains in this area, but is not actively blooming. During surveys of the Manasquan River a large, viable eelgrass (Zostera marina) bed was identified near the original collection site of the first G. vertens, so the preferred habitat for G. vertens is present, however the abundant populations in the Shrewsbury River are using macroalgae as habitat, so both algae and seagrass are viable habitat for G. vertens.