Ca. Gillis et al., DDT, DDD, AND DDE CONTAMINATION OF SEDIMENT IN THE NEWARK BAY ESTUARY, NEW-JERSEY, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology, 28(1), 1995, pp. 85-92
Two hundred and forty-six surface and buried sediment samples from New
ark Bay, New Jersey, and its major tributaries (Passaic River, Hackens
ack River, Newark Bay, Arthur Kill, Elizabeth River, and Kill Van Kull
) were assayed for p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p.p'-DDT), p,
p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (p,p'-DDD), and p,p'-dichlorodipheny
lchloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) between February 1990 and March 1993. Chron
ological profiles in sediments from pre-1940 to the present were deter
mined by radioisotope activities of (210)pb and (CS)-C-137. The concen
trations of these chemicals were compared to National Oceanic and Atmo
spheric Administration (NOAA) benchmark sediment values (Long and Morg
an 1991). The objectives were to (a) determine the spatial and tempora
l distributions of DDT compounds in sediments, (b) identify possible s
ources, and (c) assess the potential for sediment toxicity within the
estuary. Mean concentrations in surface sediments in individual waterw
ays ranged from 5 to 473 mu g/kg for p,p'-DDT, 18 to 429 mu g/kg for p
,p'-DDD, and 5 to 111 mu g/kg for p,p'-DDE. A regional background mean
concentration of approximately 100-300 mu g/kg Sigma p,p'-DDT (sum of
p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDE) was measured in surface sediments t
hroughout the estuary, with the exception of the Arthur Kill, where me
an concentrations exceeded 700 mu g/kg. The elevated concentrations fo
und in recently deposited surface sediments in the Arthur Kill may be
due to the presence of ongoing sources. The highest concentrations in
buried sediments occurred in the lower Passaic River at depths corresp
onding to historical deposits from 1940 to 1970, the peak time period
for production and usage of DDT in the United States. Comparisons to N
OAA benchmark sediment toxicity values indicate that p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DD
D, and p,p'-DDE concentrations in surface sediments may pose a potenti
al hazard to fish, shellfish, and other benthic and demersal organisms
in some portions of the estuary, particularly in the upper and lower
Arthur Kill.