Stable carbon isotopic apportionment of individual PAH in sediments from marine and estuarine environments
- National Research Council, Athens, GA (United States)
- Memorial Univ., Newfoundland, St. John`s (Canada)
- Fisheries and Oceans, St. John`s (Canada)
Much interest has recently focused on the quantitative apportionment of multiple sources of organic contaminants in natural aquatic systems. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are of great interest in this regard because in addition to their suspected toxic and carcinogenic properties, they also have a wide range of potential natural and anthropogenic sources. Here we present the results of a study where the primary source inputs of PAH to sediments of a Harbor and Estuary are quantitatively assessed using a combination of molecular abundance and carbon isotope measurements of individual (4- and 5-ring) PAH. Mass balance calculations using a simple two-component mixing model show that approximately 50 to 80% of the PAH input to the Harbour sediments is of combustion origin, and likely dominated by vehicular emissions. Direct petrogenic contribution, possibly crankcase oil, accounts for the remaining 20 to 50% of the total PAH input. PAH inputs to the Estuary seemed to be predominately of wood combustion origin but the presence of an unidentified isotopically depleted PAH source was also apparent.
- OSTI ID:
- 214840
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950801--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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