Apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sources in lower Fox River, USA, sediments by a chemical mass balance model

Abstract

Abstract-Four sediment cores were collected from the lower Fox River, Wisconsin, USA, to identify possible sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using a chemical mass balance model. The cores, which were obtained in 1995 from areas close to Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, had total PAH concentrations between 19.3 and 0.34 ppm. To determine historical trends of PAH inputs, 210 Pb and 137 Cs dating was used, and elemental carbon particle analysis was done to characterize particles from the combustion of coal, wood, and petroleum. Source fingerprints were taken from the literature. Our results indicate that coke oven emissions, highway dust, coal gasification, and wood burning are likely sources of PAHs in the lower Fox River. Coke oven emissions are in the range of 40 to 90% of total PAHs, and this fraction decreases from 1930 to 1990, except in core Fox River-A (FR-A). The overall highway dust (HWY) contribution is between 10 and 75%, and this fraction increases from 1930 to present, except in core FR-A. The wood burning (WB) contribution (i.e., wood burning or coal gasification) is less than 7% in cores FR-B, FR-C, and FR-D. In core FR-A, a maximum (ഠ23%) is found around 1960. The contribution of wood burning has changed from less than 6% in 1950 to between 3 and 10% in 1995. Evidence of aerobic biodegradation or photolysis in the sediment of phenanthrene, with a half-life of approximately 0.5 years has been found at the site of core FR-D, which is the shallowest (1.1 m) of the four core sites.

Petroleum hydrocarbon contaminations in the intertidal seawater after the Hebei Spirit oil spill – Effect of tidal cycle on the TPH concentrations and the chromatographic characterization of seawater extracts

“…The estimated half-life was comparable to the reported values for crude oil (31e75 days) or dispersed crude oil (28e58 days) in seawater (Zahed et al, 2011). Undoubtedly, the half-life of oil in seawater was much lower than the half-lives of oil components (e.g., PAHs) in sediment (60e812 days) or in marine organisms (1.4e5.3 years) (Hellou et al, 1999;MacRae and Hall, 1998;Page et al, 2005;Su et al, 2000). Because of the enhanced natural attenuation and photo-oxidation along with microbial degradation in aerobic seawater, oil in seawater is likely removed more quickly than in sediments or in marine organisms.…”

Source contributions and spatiotemporal characteristics of PAHs in sediments: Using three‐way source apportionment approach

“…Thus, understanding the sources of PAHs in sediments is of great significance for the reduction of pollutants and management of aquatic systems [10]. Source apportionment of PAHs (which can identify possible source categories and quantify source contributions) in sediments is a subject of current research [11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

Forensic Assessment of Refined Tar-Based Sealers as a Source of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban Sediments

“…Given the multitude of natural and anthropogenic sources that may contribute PAH compounds to sediments, identifying and characterizing PAH sources has been the subject of significant research. Efforts to evaluate contributions of various petrogenic (fossil fuel-derived) and pyrogenic (high temperature and combustionderived) sources have consistently identified atmospheric deposition as a significant source of PAHs to soils, paved areas, and sediments in most urban environments (Hwang and Foster, 2006;Li et al, 2003;Lima et al, 2005;Simcik et al, 1996;Stein et al, 2006;Su et al, 2000;Van Metre et al, 2000;Yunker et al, 2002). Specifically, the higher molecular weight PAHs typical of combustion-derived particulate matter, consistent with motor exhaust, coal combustion products, or wood smoke, have been found to dominate PAH profiles in sediments that are impacted by "urban background" sources (Stout et al, 2004).…”

“…Evaluation of PAH chemistry in sediment from lakes, creeks, and reservoirs from across the United States report temporal links between changes in PAH concentrations and increased automobile use and vehicle emissions (Simcik et al, 1996;Stein et al, 2006;Su et al, 2000;Van Metre et al, 2000;Dickhut et al, 2000). In the upper Midwest, the mass and chemistry of PAHs in lake sediment could be linked to specific atmospheric sources associated with activities such as steel production and motor vehicle use (Su et al, 2000, Simcik et al, 1999. Automotive emissions have been shown to be a major source of particulate PAHs in aquatic systems in the Los Angeles basin (Stein et al, 2006) and San Francisco Bay Area (Tsai et al, 2002).…”