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Monitoring for Selected Degradation Products following a Spill of VAPAM into the Sacramento River

Sanitation and Radiation Laboratory, Division of Laboratories, California State Dep. of Health Services, Berkeley, CA 94704.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Following a rail accident that spilled the soil fumigant VAPAM into the Sacramento River on 14 July 1991, a special study was carried out to assess the extent of contamination in Lake Shasta. A total of 32 river water samples collected on 18 July and another 316 samples collected from 22 July through 30 August were analyzed. Data obtained clearly showed the presence of the degradation products of Metham, namely, methyl isothiocyanate, carbonyl sulfide, methyl sulfide, and traces of methylamine. However, due to the emergency nature of the incident that required quick analytical turnaround times, as well as the unavailability of a satisfactory analytical method, the presence of Metham could not be demonstrated with certainty initially. Nonetheless, the laboratory's timely response to the crisis assisted public health officials in assessing the extent of the contamination and assuring the community-at-large that their drinking water was safe to consume. None of the degradation products analyzed were detected 1 wk after the spill.

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