Organic and metal contamination in marine surface sediments of Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico.
Land based sources of pollution have the potential to adversely impact valuable coral reef ecosystems. In Guánica Bay (Puerto Rico) sediment samples collected and analyzed in 2009 demonstrate unusually high concentrations of total chlordane, total PCBs, nickel and chromium. A variety of other contaminants (total DDT, total PAHs, As, Cu, Hg, and Zn) were also at levels which may indicate sediment toxicity. With the exception of chromium, all of these contaminants were detected in coral tissues (Porites astreoides), although it is unclear at what level these contaminants affect coral health. PCBs and chlordane are environmentally persistent and likely represent legacy pollution from historical uses in close geographic proximity to the Bay. We hypothesize that the high nickel and chromium levels are due to a combination of naturally high Ni and Cr in rock and soils in the watershed, and enhanced (human driven) erosional rates.
NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States. Electronic address: dave.whitall@noaa.gov.
David
D
Whitall
NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States.
Andrew
A
Mason
NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States.
Anthony
A
Pait
NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States.
Lia
L
Brune
NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States.
Michael
M
Fulton
NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States.
Ed
E
Wirth
Earth Resources Technology Incorporated, Contractor to NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Restoration Center, United States.
Lisa
L
Vandiver
D061006:Bays; D002706:Chlordan; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D011647:Puerto Rico; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D008670:Metals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002706:Chlordan; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Metals; PCBs; Pesticides; Pollution; Reefs; Toxicity