Sediment contaminants in Casco Bay, Maine: inventories, sources, and potential for biological impact. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • An inventory-based approach to environmental assessment that determines concentrations of sedimentary contaminants, defines their origins, and assesses the potential for biological impact is illustrated in Casco Bay, ME. The most widespread contaminants in Casco Bay are petroleum and petroleum byproducts. The highest concentrations of contaminants are associated with population centers, effluent outfalls, and spills. The majority of PAH in sediments are the product of high-temperature combustion processes. PAH concentrations at sites in close proximity to Portland exceed values believed to produce toxic responses in marine benthic organisms. In contrast, PCB, DDTs, and chlordane concentrations in the sediments are below concentrations thought to produce toxic effects in marine organisms. Metal concentrations in sediments are also below those that elicit biological responses. The geographic distribution of contaminants is initially controlled by the proximity to sources, and the regional differences in concentrations are the result of sediment accumulation patterns. Detrital (terrestrial), autochthonous marine, pyrogenic, and petroleum sources for PAH, alkanes, and trace metals are defined. 1994, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • Environ Sci Technol

altmetric score

  • 3

author list (cited authors)

  • Kennicutt, M. C., Wade, T. L., Presley, B. J., Requejo, A. G., Brooks, J. M., & Denoux, G. J.

citation count

  • 147

complete list of authors

  • Kennicutt, MC||Wade, TL||Presley, BJ||Requejo, AG||Brooks, JM||Denoux, GJ

publication date

  • January 1994