POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN GULF OF MAINE SEDIMENTS AND NOVA-SCOTIA SOILS

Thirty soil samples from Nova Scotia and thirteen sediment samples from the Charles River, Massachusetts Bay, Gulf of Maine and the north western Atlantic Ocean were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) utilizing gas Chromatographic mass spectrometry. Total PAH levels ranged from 18 ppb for deep-ocean sediments to 120,000 ppb for Charles River sediments. Wide variability in PAH concentrations was observed in Nova Scotia soils; this was attributed to differences in soil porosity, lipophilic surface cover, and humic substance content. The concentrations of sedimentary PAH in Massachusetts Bay decreased rapidly as a function of distance from Boston. We suggest that two different, competitive, transport mechanisms are responsible for this nearshore PAH concentration gradient and for the low PAH levels seen elsewhere: 1. (a) sediment resuspension and transport and 2. (b) long-range atmospheric transport. © 1979.