Assessment of sediment contaminants and toxicity in the Delaware estuary

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:42891

Costa, H J ^[1]; Sauer, T C ^[2]; Ward, T J; Boeri, R L ^[3]; Nyman, R M ^[4]

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1. Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, MA (United States)
2. Battelle Ocean Sciences, Duxbury, MA (United States)
3. T.R. Wilbury Labs., Inc., Marblehead, MA (United States)
4. Environmental Protection Agency, New York, NY (United States)

In support of the Delaware Estuary Program`s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, a study was performed to assess the spatial distribution of sediment toxicity in the Delaware Estuary and investigate potential causative contaminants. Twelve stations were sampled along the Delaware River covering 55 river miles between the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and Torresdale, PA. Four additional stations were sampled in the mid-bay portion of Delaware Bay. Ten-day sediment static acute toxicity tests with amphipods (Ampelisca abdita) were performed for all stations. Sediments were analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides, priority pollutant metals, and supporting parameters. Statistical analyses revealed positive correlations between sediment toxicity and PAH, lead, copper, and mercury concentrations. The highest incidences of sediment toxicity and highest concentrations of chemical contaminants occurred in the portion of the Delaware River between River Miles 60 and 75.

• OSTI ID: 42891
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
COPPER
DELAWARE
ESTUARIES
LEAD
MERCURY
MONITORING
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SEDIMENTS
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION