Geochemistry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Columbia River and Washington coastal sediments
A field investigation was conducted to determine the origins, dispersal pathways and fates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a river-influenced coastal marine environment. The complex PAH mixtures found in Washington coastal sediments are derived from several land-based sources. PAH products from anthropogenic combustion processes and two natural PAH, retene and perylene, are the dominant components of these complex mixtures. A natural series of phenanthrene homologs and series of tetracyclic PAH geochemically analogous to retene are present as minor constituents. The three major PAH types in Washington coastal sediments are enriched in a narrow band of coarse silt sediment, extending northwestward from the river mouth to Quinault canyon. The natural phenanthrene series is preferentially advected offshore and deposited. These distributions are consistent with known PAH-particle associations and transport processes influencing sediment dispersal in this coastal environment. Dated sediment core records suggest this PAH dispersal pattern has persisted for at least the past century.
- OSTI ID:
- 6502393
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Washington coastal sediments: an evaluation of atmospheric and riverine routes of introduction
Geochemistry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Columbia River and Washington coastal sediments
Related Subjects
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AROMATICS
BUILDUP
COASTAL REGIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HYDROCARBONS
MASS TRANSFER
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SEDIMENTS