Cd. Simpson et al., COMPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON CONTAMINATION IN SURFICIAL MARINE-SEDIMENTS FROM KITIMAT-HARBOR, CANADA, Science of the total environment, 181(3), 1996, pp. 265-278
Surficial marine sediments from 20 sites within the Kitimat fjord syst
em were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Levels o
f the sum of the 16 USEPA priority pollutant PAHs varied from below de
tection limits (ca, 1 mu g . g(-1)) to over 10 000 mu g . g(-1). Sedim
ent PAH levels were highest in the immediate vicinity of a large alumi
num smelter at the head of Kitimat Arm, and declined rapidly with incr
easing distance from the smelter. However, even at some of the more di
stant sites which are geographically isolated from the smelter PAH lev
els were elevated. The PAH distribution in the fjord system is consist
ent with a combination of aeolian and fluvial transport of PAHs emitte
d by the aluminum smelter at the head of Kitimat Arm. The mixture of P
AHs present was qualitatively similar in all samples analyzed, includi
ng those from the distant sites. All aspects of the PAH composition ar
e consistent with combustion generated PAHs. A correlation between PAH
levels and sediment organic carbon was observed; however, this was on
ly significant for highly contaminated sites in the harbor. This proba
bly reflects the high organic content of particulate emissions from th
e smelter, rather than equilibrium partitioning of PAHs to sediment or
ganic carbon within the harbor itself.