New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in deep cores from Mangere Inlet, New Zealand

ROBERT J. WILCOCK
GRANT L. NORTHCOTT

National Institute of Water & Atmospheric
Research Ltd
P. O. Box 11 115
Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract  Two deep (> 2.5 m) cores were taken from sites in Mangere Inlet, Manukau Harbour, New Zealand. Depth profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) showed that from c. 1950 to the present, total PAH mostly comprised unsubstituted compounds (having molecular weight 178, 202, 228, 252, and 276), indicative of inputs deriving from combustion and pyrolysis of fossil fuels. Total PAH in deeper sediments of both cores predominantly comprised perylene. Maximum concentrations of total PAH in the cores were 1521 and 574 ng g^-1 (dry weight) and were below levels regarded as injurious to aquatic life. Deposition fluxes of 1400-4900 and 1300-2200 ng cm^-2 yr^-1 were found in post-1950 sediments of the two cores. Although these fluxes are similar to those of other sediments in polluted environments, their magnitudes result from very high sedimentation rates and moderate PAH concentrations, rather than low sedimentation rates and high concentrations.

Keywords  PAH; urban run-off; deposition flux; sediment cores; organic contaminants

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1995: Vol. 29: 107-116

0028-8330/95/2901-0107 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1995

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (724K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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