T1 AM Contaminat Cycling Assessment and Prevention in the NY/NJ Harbor (Part 1)
Tuesday, 15 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 11:40 AM in Ballroom 1

(BRO-1118-340008) Sources of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments of the NY/NJ harbor complex.

Brownawell, B¹, Dick, J¹, Li, X¹, McElroy, A¹, Reddy, C², Nelson, R², ¹ Stonybrook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA² Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA

ABSTRACT- Petroleum derived hydrocarbons are typically the most abundant class of contaminants found in urban harbor sediments, and are hypothesized to be a significant contributor of observed toxicity in acute amphipod tests. In the NY/NJ Harbor complex we have measured median concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) to be approximately 0.1% by weight, with the highest levels (approaching 3% by weight) in sediments proximate to combined sewer overflows. The likely sources of oil to sediments have been assessed by a combination of approaches: compositional analysis of hydrocarbons by comprehensive 2-dimensional gas chromatography; comparison of the spatial distributions of TPH concentrations and compositions to possible sources; and recent detection of fully synthetic hydrocarbons that are specific to a leading engine lubricating oil. Our analysis to date indicates that, over much of the area of the Harbor complex, the hydrocarbon signature preserved in sediment is dominated by lubricating oils and that urban runoff is the most likely source of that material. However, the composition of TPH in sediments from Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill and Kill van Kull waterways is more affected by lower boiling petroleum hydrocarbons that likely derive from operational and accidental releases of fuel oils from the petrochemical industry known to be more concentrated in this region of the Harbor. The sediment concentrations of TPH will be related to available loading data and the results compared to predictions based upon geochemical information. The relationship between fuel oil distributions and sediment toxicity in NY/NJ Harbor will also be presented.

Key words: petroleum, hydrocarbon, sediments, toxicity