title: Examining spatial patterns in polycyclic aromatic compounds measured in stream macroinvertebrates near a small subarctic oil and gas operation.
abstract: The Cameron River runs through a small, remote petrochemical development in the Cameron Hills (Northwest Territories, Canada). In order to evaluate the exposure of aquatic biota to contaminants from oil and gas activities, we measured polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in macroinvertebrates collected from sites and tributaries along the Cameron River, including upstream and downstream of the development, and sites located near drilled wells (developed). Macroinvertebrate tissue PAC burdens ranged from 0.2-2.8 μg g(-1) lipid for unsubstituted compounds, and from 4.2-63.2 μg g(-1) lipid for alkylated compounds, relatively low compared to similar studies from more industrialized regions in North America. There was no significant difference in tissue PAC burdens between upstream, downstream, or developed sites (p = 0.12), although alkyl PACs in five out of seven developed sites were higher than the regional average. Petrogenic PACs were dominant in most samples, including alkyl fluorines, alkyl phenanthrene/anthracenes, and alkyl dibenzothiophenes. Minimal changes in PAC composition in macroinvertebrate tissues were detected along the Cameron River, with the exception of the two sites furthest downstream that had high concentrations of C3-C4 naphthalene. Overall, our results suggest that oil and gas development in the Cameron Hills has not resulted in substantial increases in PAC bioaccumulation in stream macroinvertebrates, although the potential that alkyl naphthalenes are being transported downstream from the development warrants further attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Pvt., Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada. jennifer.korosi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Korosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Pvt., Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Eickmeyer
authors.affiliation: Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program, Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, 5102 50th Avenue, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3S8, Canada.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program, Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, 5102 50th Avenue, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3S8, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Pvt., Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kimpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Pvt., Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D002170:Canada; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000378:metabolism; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009281:Naphthalenes; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; C031721:naphthalene; C031181:phenanthrene
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Northwest Territories, Canada; Petroleum extraction; Plecoptera; Polycyclic aromatic compounds