Comparative Evaluation of Background Anthropogenic Hydrocarbons in Surficial Sediments from Nine Urban Waterways

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 38; no. 11; pp. 2987 - 2994
• Main Authors: Stout, Scott A, Uhler, Allen D, Emsbo-Mattingly, Stephen D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.06.2004
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cities; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Hydrocarbons; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Sediments; Soil and sediments pollution; United States; Urban areas; Veterinarians; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; United States; North America; America; USA; Background concentration; Histogram; Chemical analysis; Hydrocarbon; Urban area; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Sediments; Pollution; Diffuse source; Surface water; Pollution source; Qualitative analysis; Organic compounds; Quantitative analysis; Concentration distribution; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es040327q

Anthropogenic hydrocarbons in surficial urban sediments derived from nonpoint sources (e.g., stormwater runoff, surface runoff, direct atmospheric deposition, and small but persistent discharges) are the principal characteristics of “urban background”. Establishing the character and concentration of urban background helps determine the incremental impacts from point sources and develop successful remedial strategies. In this study, we compared the nature and amount of total extractable hydrocarbons (THC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including alkylated PAHs, within 280 surficial (mostly 0−10 cm) sediments from nine, well-studied urban waterways on the East and West U.S. Coasts. These 280 sediments were predominantly impacted by urban background. All the sediments were analyzed by consistent preparation and analytical methods and met consistent data quality objectives, thereby minimizing variations attributable to methodology. The data demonstrate that the anthropogenic hydrocarbons comprising urban background from all locations exhibit a generally consistent nature, dominated by (1) a variably shaped unresolved complex mixture (UCM) within the residual (C20+) range and (2) a variable distribution of resolved 4- to 6-ring nonalkylated (parent) PAHs, mostly dominated by fluoranthene and pyrene (and exhibiting a FL/PY ratio of 0.9 ± 0.2). The variable nature of both the THC and PAH distributions testifies that, while there is a general consistency to urban background, there are definite differences between (and even within) different urban settings. This indicates that there is no single “representative” urban background THC or PAH signature. The greatest mass of THC is reasonably attributable to heavy petroleum(s) comprising the UCM, whereas the greatest mass of PAHs is reasonably attributable to combustion-derived particulate matter. The mean concentration of THC attributable to urban background was 415 mg/kg (dry wt). The concentration of EPA 16-Priority Pollutant PAHs was less than 20 000 μg/kg (dry wt) in 96% of the sediments studied. Thus, sediments containing significantly more than 20 000 μg/kg of the EPA 16 Priority Pollutant PAHs (or more the 30 000 μg/kg of 43 parent and alkylated PAHs) should be suspected to contain PAHs not entirely attributable to urban background, unless site- or regional-specific survey data supports a different urban background concentration profile.