Hydrocarbon distributions and transport in an urban estuary

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00156a010· OSTI ID:5670618

Bates, T S; Murphy, P P; Curl, Jr, H C; Feely, R A

Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic (PAH) hydrocarbons were quantified on suspended particulates and surficial bottom sediments from the main basin of Puget Sound WA. Total four-, five-, and six-ring PAH concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 3.2 ..mu..g/g dry weight of sediment. Concentrations of total n-alkanes and the unresolved complex mixture ranged from 3 to 35 and from 35 to 1100 ..mu..g/g, respectively. The highest hydrocarbon concentrations on particulates were found in the surface waters near Seattle. Concentrations decreased with depth in the water column and with distance from Seattle. Hydrocarbon distributions and concentration gradients show vertical flux as the major transport process. Although the hydrocarbon residence time in the water column is short to horizontally mix the compounds, resuspension and lateral transport in the bottom nepheloid layer disperse the hydrocarbons throughout the fine-grained sediments in the center of the basin. 22 references, 6 figures.

• Research Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA
• OSTI ID: 5670618
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 21:2; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
AROMATICS
CONTAMINATION
DATA
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MASS TRANSFER
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC OCEAN
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PUGET SOUND
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
URBAN AREAS
WATER POLLUTION