Aliphatic hydrocarbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon geochemistry of twelve major rivers in the Northwest Territories

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:225217

Backus, S ^[1]; Swyripa, M; Peddle, J ^[2]; Jeffries, D S ^[3]

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1. Backus Consulting, Stoney Creek, Ontario (Canada)
2. Department of Indian and Northern Development, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (Canada)
3. National Water Research Inst., Burlington, Ontario (Canada)

Suspended sediment and water samples collected from twelve major rivers in the Northwest Territories were analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to assess the sources and transport of hydrocarbons entering the Arctic Ocean. Three stations on the Mackenzie River and one station near the mouth of eleven other northern rivers were selected for sampling. Samples were collected on the Mackenzie River on four occasions to characterize spring, summer and fall flow conditions and once on the remaining eleven rivers during high flow conditions. The Mackenzie River is distinctively different then the other eleven rivers. Naturally occurring hydrocarbons predominate in the river. These hydrocarbons include biogenic alkanes, diagenic PAHs, petrogenic alkanes, and PAHs from oil seeps and/or bitumens. Anthropogenic inputs of PAHs are low as indicated by low concentrations of combustion PAHs. Alkyl PAH distributions indicate that a significant component of the lower molecular weight PAH fraction is petrogenic. The majority of the high molecular weight PAHs, together with the petrogenic PAHs have a principal source in the Mackenzie River.

• OSTI ID: 225217
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
ARCTIC OCEAN
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
OIL SPILLS
POLLUTION SOURCES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RIVERS
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION