Sediment Elizabeth River

Because of this trapping effect, estuarine sediments can provide excellent chronological records of contamination histories. An example is provided in Figure 28.24 for sediment collected from two sites located in two watersheds in the Elizabeth River, VA, USA. In general, sedimentary trace metals tend to be closely related to the transport and deposition of fine-grained and organic-rich sediments. The downcore profiles presented... 

Metal profiles for two sediment cores from the Elizabeth River, VA, USA. Land use along the shores adjacent to collection site PC-1 (Paradise Creek) is primarily industrial and includes oil terminals, shipyard installations, coal transfer facilities, petroleum distribution and shipment operations, and wood treatment facilities. It has been identified as a toxic hot spot by the U.S. EPA. Land-use adjacent to WB-2 (Western Branch) is primarily residential. Excess lopb and profiles for (a) PC-1 and (b) WB-2 profiles. These were used to determine accumulation rates (1.1 to 2.3cm/y at PC-1 and <0.5cm/y at WB-2). Trace metal enrichment factor profiles (see Eq. 28.1 in text) are presented in profiles (c-g) in groups determined by the depth and shape of their concentration peaks. Source From Conrad, C. R, et al. (2007). Marine Pollution Bulletin 54, 385-395. 

Mitra, S., Dickhut, R.M., Kuehl, S.A., and Kimbrough, K.L. (1999b) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) source, sediments deposition patterns, and particle geochemistry as factors influencing PAH distribution coefficients in sediments of the Elizabeth River, VA, USA. Mar. Chem. 66, 113-127. 

Fluorescence and GC/MS analyses show Chat carbonized coal hydrocarbons are widespread contaminants of sediments In the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, Va. The highest levels are found In the vicinity of suspected sources and generally decrease with Increased distance from these sources. Parent aromatic compounds are the predominant hydrocarbon component of carbonized coal and can be uniquely detected even In the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons. Carbonized coal products are a chronic source of priority pollutant polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the Elizabeth River. 

Sediment samples were collected using a grab sampler (which samples approximately the top 10 cm) aboard Old Dominion University s research vessels, ODU-1 and Linwood Hoi Con. The sample locations are shown In Figure 1. The samples were stored frozen In clean, solvent-washed jars until analyzed. Creosoted wood samples were collected from areas adjacent to the Elizabeth River (Figure 1). Three samples of refined creosote and one sample of coal tar were also analyzed. Creosote samples from Atlantic Wood Industries, the remaining operative creosotlng facility on the Elizabeth River, were not available. The woodstove soot sample was obtained from a domestic woodstove in which predominantly hardwoods were burned. 

Figure 1. Sampling locations for creosoted wood (C) and sediments (S) and the location of the wood preserving facilities on the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, VA.

The three-dimensional fluorescence spectra of a creosote sample, a sediment sample from the vicinity of the creosote facilities (S5), a sediment sample from the entrance to the Elizabeth River (S8), and No. 2 Fuel Oil are shown in Figure 5. 

The fluorescence data support the conclusions from the GC data that creosote is a contaminant of Elizabeth River sediments. 

Carbonized coal products have a unique fingerprint by both GC and fluorescence analyses. Both these fingerprints confirm that sediments from the Elizabeth River are contaminated with carbonized coal products and allow for the detection of carbonized coal hydrocarbons, even in the presence of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons. Fluorescence allows for the rapid analysis of more samples and shows the contamination within the Elizabeth River to be widespread. Carbonized coal products in the sediments may constitute a chronic long-term source of PNA s to the water column. 

Bieri RH, Hein C, Huggett RJ, et al. 1986. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the Elizabeth river subestuary. Int J Environ Anal Chem 26 97-113. 

Chiaradia M, Gulson BL, James M et al (1997) Identification of secondary lead sources in the air of an urban environment Atmos Environ 31 3511-3521 Chow TJ, Patterson CC (1961) The occurrence and significance of lead isotopes in pelagic sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 26 263-308 Conrad CF, Chisholm-Brause CJ (2004) Spatial survey of trace metal contaminants in the sediments of the Elizabeth River, Virginia. Mar Pollut Bull 49 319-324 Crone H (2004) Paracelsus the man who defied medicine his real contribution to medicine. The Albarello Press, Melbourne... 

Fig. 13. Relationship between the level of fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) in the bile of oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) and concentration of total PAHs in sediments. Values are mean and standard error of the mean. Samples are from the Elizabeth River, Virginia, U.S.A. (Redrawn from Collier et al. 1993.)...

Huggett RJ, Bender ME, Unger MA (1987) Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the Elizabeth River, Virginia. In Dickson KL, Maki AW, Brungs WA (eds) Fate and Effects of Sediment-Bound Chemicals in Aquatic Systems. Pergamon Press, New York, pp 327-341. 

Bieri, R. H. Hein, C. Huggett, R. J. Shou, P. Slone, H. Smith, C. Su, C. "Toxic Organic Compounds in Surface Sediments from the Elizabeth and Patapsco Rivers and Estuaries" VA Institute of Marine Science Glouchester Pt., VA, 1982. 

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