Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contamination in South Carolina Salt Marsh-Tidal Creek Systems: Relationships Among Sediments, Biota, and Watershed Land Use

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 2009-07, Vol.57 (1), p.103-115
• Main Authors: Garner, Thomas R, Weinstein, John E, Sanger, Denise M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biota; Brackish water ecosystems; Carcinogens; Chemical contaminants; Conservation of Natural Resources; Creeks; Creeks & streams; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Estuaries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Health risks; Laboratories; Land use; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Monopylephorus rubroniveus; Oligochaeta; Oligochaeta - metabolism; Palaemonidae - metabolism; Pollution; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Principal Component Analysis; Sediments; Soil erosion; Soil Science & Conservation; South Carolina; Synecology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Supply; Watershed management; Watersheds; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/s00244-008-9256-9

Sediments and biota from 11 tidal creeks were sampled and classified into forested, suburban, and urban/industrial watershed land-use categories. Total PAH levels ([summation operator]PAH₁₆) in sediments were significantly higher in urban/industrialized creeks (5,795 ± 1,173 ng/g) compared to suburban (793 ± 131 ng/g) and forested (238 ± 34 ng/g) creeks. No differences in [summation operator]PAH₁₆ levels among land-use classifications were found for either oligochaetes (Monopylephorus rubroniveus) or grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio). However, [summation operator]PAH₁₆ levels in grass shrimp were related to sediment [summation operator]PAH₁₆ levels and [summation operator]PAH₁₆ levels in oligochaetes and grass shrimp eggs were related to impervious cover in the watershed. Diagnostic ratios suggest that the primary sources of PAH in suburban and urban/industrialized creeks are pyrogenic. Carcinogenic PAH contents of sediments and biota were related to impervious cover. While human exposures to these sediment-associated carcinogens were not assessed, levels of several carcinogenic PAHs in sediments of urban/industrial tidal creeks were above the levels that represent an increased cancer risk in humans.