title: Comparison of wastewater-associated contaminants in the bed sediment of Hempstead Bay, New York, before and after Hurricane Sandy.
abstract: Changes in bed sediment chemistry of Hempstead Bay (HB) have been evaluated in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which resulted in the release of billions of liters of poorly-treated sewage into tributaries and channels throughout the bay. Surficial grab samples (top 5cm) collected before and (or) after Hurricane Sandy from sixteen sites in HB were analyzed for 74 wastewater tracers and steroid hormones, and total organic carbon. Data from pre- and post-storm comparisons of the most frequently detected wastewater tracers and ratios of steroid hormone and of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations indicate an increased sewage signal near outfalls and downstream of where raw sewage was discharged. Median concentration of wastewater tracers decreased after the storm at sites further from outfalls. Overall, changes in sediment quality probably resulted from a combination of additional sewage inputs, sediment redistribution, and stormwater runoff in the days to weeks following Hurricane Sandy.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, 2045 Route 112, Building 4, Coram, NY 11727, United States. Electronic address: scfisher@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: Shawn C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, 425 Jordan Rd., Troy, NY 12180, United States.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Dana Hall, Room 127, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States.
authors.forename: Bruce J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Brownawell
authors.affiliation: Town of Hempstead Department of Conservation and Waterways, Lido Blvd., Point Lookout, NY 11569, United States.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Browne
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009518:New York; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Hempstead Bay; Hormone; Hurricane Sandy; Organic wastewater contaminant; Sewage; Wastewater infrastructure