The chemical response of particle-associated contaminants in aquatic sediments to urbanization in New England, U.S.A.

Chalmers, A. T.; Van Metre, P. C.; Callender, E.

Abstract:

Relations between urbanization and particle-associated contaminants in New England were evaluated using a combination of samples from sediment cores, streambed sediments, and suspended stream sediments. Concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, DDT, and seven trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) were correlated strongly with urbanization, with the strongest relations to percentage commercial, industrial, and transportation (CIT) land use. Average PAH and metal concentrations in the most urbanized watersheds were approximately 30 and 6 times the reference concentrations, respectively, in remote, undeveloped watersheds. One-quarter to one-half of sampling sites had concentrations of PAHs, Cu, Pb, or Zn above the probable effects concentration, a set of sediment quality guidelines for adverse effects to aquatic biota, and sediments were predicted to be toxic, on average, when CIT land use exceeded about 10%. Trends in metals in cores from urban watersheds were dominantly downward, whereas trends in PAHs in a suburban watershed were upward. A regional atmospheric-fallout gradient was indicated by as much as order-of-magnitude-greater concentrations and accumulation rates of contaminants in cores from an undeveloped reference lake in Boston compared to those from remote reference watersheds. Contaminant accumulation rates in the lakes with urbanization in their watersheds, however, were 1-3 orders of magnitude greater than those of reference lakes, which indicate the dominance of local sources and fluvial transport of contaminants to urban lakes. These analyses demonstrate the magnitude of urban contamination of aquatic systems and air sheds, and suggest that, despite reductions in contaminant emissions in urban settings, streams and lakes will decline in quality as urbanization of their watersheds takes place. ?? 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genre:

Article

ProdID:

70030131

Citation Author:

Chalmers, A. T.; Van Metre, P. C.; Callender, E.

Citation Contributing Office:

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

Citation Issue:

1-2

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Citation LatN:

Citation LatS:

Citation LonE:

Citation LonW:

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

Citation Publisher:

Citation Series:

Citation Series Code:

Citation Series Number:

Citation Search Results Text:

The chemical response of particle-associated contaminants in aquatic sediments to urbanization in New England, U.S.A.; 2007; Article; Journal; Journal of Contaminant Hydrology; Chalmers, A. T.; Van Metre, P. C.; Callender, E.