Flux of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to Central Puget Sound from Seattle (Westpoint) primary sewage effluent
Concentrations and mass emission rates are reported for hydrocarbons in a 20-month evaluation of primary municipal waste water discharging to marine waters of Puget Sound from Seattle, WA. On the average, METRO (Westpoint) discharges 475 metric tons/year of aliphatic hydrocarbons and approximately 1 metric ton/year of 3-7 ring polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), corresponding to discharges of 2.6 and 0.005 g/(capita day), respectively. Effluent PAH containing greater than or equal to 4 rings apparently derive principally from storm-water contributions. A comparison of METRO's yearly average discharge of different hydrocarbon components with observed hydrocarbon fluxes in adjacent Puget Sound surface sediments suggests negligible accumulations of the resolvable alkanes (derived from the effluent), partial accumulations of an unresolved complex mixture and phenanthrene, and substantial accumulations of the greater than or equal to4-ring PAH. The discharge accounts for a major portion of the sedimentary aliphatic fossil hydrocarbon flux and is one of several important PAH contributors. 45 references, 2 figures, 5 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Washington, Seattle
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT06-75EV70040
- OSTI ID:
- 5492036
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 16:10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ALKANES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
MUNICIPAL WASTES
MARINE DISPOSAL
PHENANTHRENE
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
WASHINGTON
WATER POLLUTION
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
WASTE WATER
AROMATICS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DATA
FEDERAL REGION X
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
320604 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)