Source characterization using compound composition and stable carbon isotope ratio of PAHs in sediments from lakes, harbor, and shipping waterway.
Molecular compositions and compound specific stable carbon isotope ratios of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) isolated from sediments were used to characterize possible sources of contamination at an urban lake, a harbor, a shipping waterway, and a relatively undisturbed remote lake in the northwest United States. Total PAH concentrations in urban lake sediments ranged from 66.0 to 16,500 microg g(-1) dry wt. with an average of 2600 microg g(-1), which is approximately 50, 100, and 400 times higher on average than PAH in harbor (48 microg g(-1) on average), shipping waterway (26 microg g(-1)), and remote lake (7 microg g(-1)) sediments, respectively. The PAH distribution patterns, methyl phenanthrene/phenanthrene ratios, and a pyrogenic index at the sites suggest a pyrogenic origin for PAHs. Source characterization using principal component analysis and various molecular indices including C2-dibenzothiophenes/C2-phenanthrenes, C3-dibenzothiophenes/C3-phenanthrenes, and C2-chrysenes/C2-phenanthrenes ratios, was able to differentiate PAH deposited in sediments from the four sites. The uniqueness of the source of the sediment PAHs from urban lake was also illustrated by compound specific stable carbon isotope analysis. It was concluded that urban lake sediments are accumulating PAH from sources that are unique from contamination detected at nearby sites in the same watershed.
Kim
Moonkoo
M
Marine Environmental Research Laboratory, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, 391 Jangmok-ri, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje, 656-830, Republic of Korea. mkim@kordi.re.kr
Kennicutt
Mahlon C
MC
Qian
Yaorong
Y
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011786:Quality Control; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014481:United States; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical