Abstract
A baseline environmental characterization of Seldovia Bay and harbor on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, was conducted using a sediment quality approach. The data was derived from a larger study that assessed seven distinct water bodies on the Kenai Peninsula’s north side, draining into Kachemak Bay or into Lower Cook Inlet. Sampling sites for water quality measurements, sediment chemistry, and benthos were randomized within each embayment. Concentrations of 140 organic and elemental contaminants were analyzed. Habitat parameters (depth, salinity, grain size, organic carbon, etc.) that influence species and contaminant distribution were also measured at each sampling site. Concentrations of chlorinated pesticides and PCBs were uniformly low, with the exception of Seldovia Harbor, where total DDT and PCBs exceeded the lower sediment quality guidelines. Concentrations of PAHs were relatively low, except in Seldovia Harbor where concentrations exceeded lower sediment quality guidelines for PAHs, and in one location approached the upper limit. That concentration of PAHs exceeded all other measurements in the NOAA National Status & Trends database for the entire State of Alaska. Characteristics of the PAH compounds present indicate large contributions of pyrogenic sources (burned fuel and/or other organic matter). Seldovia Bay had much lower PAH concentrations than the harbor.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ADEC. (2006). Places of refuge for the cook inlet subarea. Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention and Response. http://www.adec.state.ak.us/spar/perp/cookinletpor/index.htm
Alaska Department of Labor (2019). Alaska Population Estimates. http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/pop/
Apeti, D. A., Hartwell, S. I., Johnson, W. E., & Lauenstein, G. G. (2012). National Status and Trends Bioeffects Program: Field Methods. In NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment. NOAA NCCOS Technical Memorandum 135 Silver Spring, MD. 27 pp.
ASTM. (2004). Standard test method for measuring the toxicity of sediment-associated contaminants with estuarine and marine invertebrates. ASTM standard method no. EI 367-03e I. In 2004 annual book of ASTM standards, volume 11.05, biological effects and environmental fate; biotechnology; pesticides. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.
Boehm, P., Steinhauer, W., Cobb, D., Duffy, S., & Brown, J. (1984). Baffin Island oil spill working report (pp. 83–82). Ottawa, Canada: Environ. Protection Ser., Environment Canada.
Brabets, T. P., Nelson, G. L., Dorava, J. M., & Milner, A. M. (1999). Water-quality assessment of the cook Inlet Basin, Alaska – Environmental setting. U.S. Geological Survey, water-resources investigations report (pp. 99–4025).
Bray, S. & Langston, W.J.. (2006). Tributyltin pollution on a global scale. An overview of relevant and recent research: impacts and issues. Report to Dr. Simon Walmsley, WWF UK. BaSECO Consultants and the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 48pp.
Colombo, J. C., Pelletler, E., Brochu, C., Khalil, M., & Catogglo, J. A. (1989). Determination of hydrocarbon sources using n-alkane and polyaromatic hydrocarbon distribution indexes. Case study: Rio de la Plata estuary. Argentina. Environmental Science and Technology, 23, 888–894.
Gill, R. A. and Robotham, P. W. J. 1989. Composition, sources and source identification of petroleum hydrocarbons and their residues. In Green, J. Trett, M. W. (eds.) The Fate and Effects of Oil in Freshwater. Elsevier, London. pp 11–40.
Hartwell, S. I., & Hameedi, M. J. (2006). Habitat conditions and correlations of sediment quality triad indicators in Delaware Bay. J. Environ. Monitoring and Assessment, 121, 181–212.
Hartwell, S.I. & Hameedi, J. (2007). Magnitude and extent of contaminated sediment and toxicity in Chesapeake Bay. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS/NCCOS/CCMA 47. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD, 234 pp.
Hartwell, S.I., Hameedi, J., & Harmon, M. (2001). Magnitude and extent of contaminated sediment and toxicity in Delaware Bay. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS/NCCOS/CCMA 148. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD, 107pp.
Hartwell, S.I., Apeti, D., Claflin, L.W., Johnson, W.E. & Kimbrough, K. (2009). Sediment quality triad assessment in Kachemak Bay: characterization of soft bottom benthic habitats and contaminant bioeffects assessment. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 104. 170pp. NOAA, NOS, Silver Spring, MD.
Hartwell, S. I., Apeti, A. D., Pait, A. S., Radenbaugh, T., & Britton, R. (2016). Bioeffects assessment in Kvichak and Nushagak Bay, Alaska: Characterization of soft bottom benthic habitats, fish body burdens and sediment contaminant baseline assessment. In North Pacific Research Board Final Report 1315, 92 pp.
Hartwell, S.I., Dasher, D., & Lomax, T. (2017). Characterization of benthic habitats and contaminant assessment in Kenai Peninsula fjords and bays. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 221. Silver Spring, MD. 66 pp. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-NOS-NCCOS-221
Hartwell, S. I., Dasher, D., & Lomax, T. (2019). Characterization of metal/metalloid concentrations in fjords and bays on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191(264), 264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7376-5.
Kimbrough, K.L. & Lauenstein, G.G. (2006). Organic contaminant analytical methods of the National Status and Trends Program: Update 2000-2006. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 30, 137 pp.
Kuletz, K. J. (1994). Marbled murrelet abundance and breeding activity at Naked Island, Prince William sound, and Kachemak Bay, Alaska, before and after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In State/Federal Natural Resources Damage Assessment Final Report (bird study number 6). Anchorage, Alaska: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Long, E. R. (2000). Spatial extent of sediment toxicity in U.S. estuaries and marine bays. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 64, 391–407.
Long, E. R., & Morgan, L. G. (1990). The potential for biological effects of sediment-Sorbed contaminants tested in the National Status and Trends Program. NOAA Tech. Memo NOS OMA 52 (p. 175). Seattle, WA: NOAA.
Long, E. R., MacDonald, D. D., Smith, S. L., & Calder, F. D. (1995). Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuarine sediments. Environmental Management, 19, 81–97.
Long, E. R., Robertson, A., Wolfe, D. A., Hameedi, J., & Sloane, G. M. (1996). Estimates of the spatial extent of sediment toxicity in major U.S. estuaries. Environmental Science & Technology, 30(12), 3585–3592.
Norman, S.A. (2011). Anthropogenic and environmental stressors in Cook Inlet beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). NMFS Contract No. HA133F-10-SE-3639, NOAA Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
NRC (National Research Council). (1985). Oil in the sea- inputs, fates, and effects. Wash. DC: Nat. Acad. Press 601 pp.
O’Connor, T. P. (2002). National distribution of chemical concentrations in mussels and oysters in the USA. Martine environmental Research, 53, 117–143.
Page, D.S., Gilfillan, E.S., Boehm, P.D., Neff, J.M, Stubblefield, W.A., Parker, K.R. & Maki, A.W. (2001). Sediment toxicity measurements in oil spill injury assessment: a study of shorelines affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Proceeding of the International Conference on radiation of Contaminated Sediments. Venice Italy, October 10–11.
Pait, A.S., Warner, R.A., Hartwell, S.I, Nelson, J.O., Pacheco, P.A., & Mason, A. (2006). Human use pharmaceuticals in the estuarine environments: a survey of the Chesapeake Bay, Biscayne Bay and the Gulf of the Farallones. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS/NCCOS/CCMA 7, Sept., 2006, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD, 21pp.
Saupe, S.M., Gendron, J., & Dasher, D. (2005). The condition of southcentral Alaska coastal bays and estuaries. A Statistical Summary for the National Coastal Assessment Program Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, MARCH 15, 2006.
Shorezone. 2016. http://www.shorezone.org/learn-shorezone/shorezone-coverage
Turgeon, D.D., Hameedi J., Harmon, M.R, Long, E.R., McMahon, K.D., and White, H.H. 1998. Sediment toxicity in U.S. coastal waters. Special report, NOAA, National Status and Trends Program. Silver Spring, Maryland. 20 pp.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2005). Coastal condition report for Alaska, Hawaii and island territories. National Coastal Condition Report II., 215–246.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2015). Update of human health ambient water quality criteria: endosulfan sulfate 1031-07-8. EPA 820-R-15-039.
Wania, F., & Mackay, D. (1995). A global distribution model for persistent organic chemicals. Science of The Total Environment, 160/161, 211–232.
Wolfe, R.J. (1996). Subsistence food harvests in rural Alaska and food safety issues. Proceeding of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences Committee on Environmental Justice, Spokane, WA.
Acknowledgments
The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and NCCOS Kasitsna Bay Lab provided essential logistical support. Hans Pedersen and Mike Geagel supported all field missions and vessel operations.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hartwell, S.I., Dasher, D. & Lomax, T. Characterization of organic contaminants in fjords and bays on the Kenai Peninsula Alaska. Environ Monit Assess 191, 427 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7530-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7530-0