Benthic community and sediment quality assessment of Port Hope Harbour, Lake Ontario

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(86)71720-6· OSTI ID:6470792

Hart, D R; McKee, P M; Burt, A J; Goffin, M J

Sediments in Port Hope Harbour, Lake Ontario, have been heavily contaminated by radionuclides and heavy metals from a radium recovery plant, a uranium refinery, and other industrial activities. Spatial patterns in surficial sediment contamination, benthic community structure, and bioaccumulation of contaminants were assessed to determine possible relationships and potential environmental hazards in the event of dredging. Benthic community differences in species composition and density between inner and outer harbour areas corresponded with both habitat and sediment quality differences. Sediment loss-on-ignition, nitrogen, iron, copper, lead, chromium, zinc, and nickel concentrations in the inner harbour exceeded provincial guidelines for open water disposal of dredged spoils. Only iron exceeded those guidelines in the other harbour. Tissue levels of radionuclides and heavy metals in benthic invertebrates were greatest at the most heavily contaminated stations in the inner harbour. Reduced benthic densities and maximum sediment contamination occurred near a refinery cooling water discharge. 59 references, 3 figures, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Beak Consultants Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 6470792
• Journal Information: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States) Vol. 12:3; ISSN JGLRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520300 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BENTHOS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHROMIUM
COPPER
ELEMENTS
GREAT LAKES
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
IRON
ISOTOPES
LAKE ONTARIO
LAKES
LEAD
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
METALS
NICKEL
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
ZINC