Sediment contaminants in Casco Bay, Maine. Inventories, sources, and potential for biological impact

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00050a003· OSTI ID:7296996

Kennicutt, II, M C; Wade, T L; Presley, B J; Requejo, A G; Brooks, J M; Denoux, G J ^[1]

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1. Texas A M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)

An inventory-based approach to environmental assessment that determines concentrations of sedimentary contaminants, defines their origins, and assesses the potential for biological impact is illustrated in Casco Bay, ME. The most widespread contaminants in Casco Bay are petroleum and petroleum byproducts. The highest concentrations of contaminants are associated with population centers, effluent outfalls, and spills. The majority of PAH in sediments are the product of high-temperature combustion processes. PAH concentrations at sites in close proximity to Portland exceed values believed to produce toxic responses in marine benthic organisms. In contrast, PCB, DDTs, and chlordane concentrations in the sediments are below concentrations thought to produce toxic effects in marine organisms. Metal concentrations in sediments are also below those that elicit biological responses. The geographic distribution of contaminants is initially controlled by the proximity to sources, and the regional differences in concentrations are the result of sediment accumulation patterns. Detrital (terrestrial), autochthonous marine, pyrogenic, and petroleum sources for PAH, alkanes, and trace metals are defined. 21 refs., 10 figs., 6 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7296996
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 28:1; ISSN 0013-936X; ISSN ESTHAG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BENTHOS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CHEMICAL WASTES
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CONTAMINATION
DATA
DDT
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
INSECTICIDES
INVENTORIES
MAINE
METALS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL SPILLS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORIGIN
PESTICIDES
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTANTS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SEDIMENTS
TOXICITY
TRACE AMOUNTS
USA
WASTES