Origin and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surficial sediments from the savannah river |
| |
Authors: | Sanders M Sivertsen S Scott G |
| |
Institution: | (1) National Ocean Service, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412-9110, USA, US |
| |
Abstract: | Surface sediments collected from the Savannah River, located in the southeastern state of Georgia, USA, in June–July 1994
were analyzed for individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Three subdivisions of the river were identified for
the study: upstream from, adjacent to, and downstream from the city of Savannah. There was high spatial variability in the
total PAH (ΣPAH) concentrations that ranged from 29 to 5,375 ng/g with an average concentration of 1,216 ± 1,161 (SD). Of
the three subdivisions, the highest ΣPAH concentrations were in the middle segment, which was adjacent to urban and industrial
areas. To elucidate sources, molecular indices based on indices among phenanthrene versus anthracene and fluoranthene versus
pyrene were used to determine pyrogenic and petrogenic sources, respectively. These indices have been used by other authors
to differentiate sources. In most cases, PAHs in sediments nearest the city of Savannah were of high temperature and pyrogenic
origin. These pyrogenic PAHs were highly associated with toxicity to benthic organisms. The two-ringed naphthalene and substituted
naphthalenes, which are petroleum-related PAHs, were significantly higher in the lower section of the river relative to the
subdivisions. This river segment receives inputs primarily from shipping and boating traffic. Perylene, which is indicative
of nonanthropogenic terrestrial inputs of carbon, had the highest concentration among the individual PAHs measured. High perylene
concentrations were found at stations located upstream and adjacent to forested terrain and where salinity level was low.
To discriminate pattern differences and similarities of individual PAHs among samples, principal component analysis (PCA)
was performed on the more hydrophobic and persistent nonalkylated PAHs. These differences and similarities were used to infer
perylene origin. PCA was performed on 14 nonalkylated PAHs that was normalized to the sum of nonalkylated PAHs, using a correlation
matrix. Generally, the PAHs were separated into group patterns according to chemical and physical properties associated with
log K
OW, except perylene. Perylene, a five-ringed PAH, was distinctly separated from the other five-ringed PAHs. The sources for
perylene are likely from biogenic, terrestrial precursors. The collected data show that pyrogenic PAHs were highly associated
with biological effects on benthic organisms, based on bioassay results. Perylene, a nonanthropogenic PAH, was found throughout
the river and constituted a large percentage of total PAHs in the upper river.
Received: 20 November 2001/Accepted: 3 May 2002 |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|