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EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHEMICAL QUALITY OF THREE TIDAL BAYOUS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
Citation:
Lewis, M A., J C. Moore, L R. Goodman, J M. Patrick, R S. Stanley, T H. Roush, AND R L. Quarles. EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHEMICAL QUALITY OF THREE TIDAL BAYOUS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. WATER, AIR, AND SOIL POLLUTION. Springer, New York, NY, 127(1/4):65-91, (2001).
Impact/Purpose:
This paper summarizes the water and sediment quality and compares the results with Florida and National quality guidelines to protect marine life.
Description:
Water and sediment quality in three tidal bayous located near Pensacola, Florida, were assessed during 1993-1995. The primary objective was to determine the environmental condition of the relatively small urban bayous by comparing the chemical quality of the sediments and surface water with published guidelines and criteria developed to protect aquatic life. In addition, the temporal and spatial variation in chemical quality were determined to assess their relevance on the chemical characterization of these near-coastal areas common in the Gulf of Mexico region. Surface water concentrations of most potential toxicants such as heavy metals, organochloride pesticides, PAHs and PCBs were usually below measurable detection limits. The major exception to this trend was for copper which consistently exceeded Florida and National chronic water quality criteria. Nickel, cadmium and chromium intermittently exceeded the criteria. Sediment contamination was site-specific and chemically diverse. The concentrations of as many as 17 compounds exceeded proposed Florida coastal sediment quality guidelines indicating the potential for toxicity. Summer-early fall nutrient levels, with one exception, were generally below average levels found in other Florida estuaries. Seasonal variation in contaminant concentrations for sediment collected from the same sampling station was less than an order of magnitude; however, spatial variation was considerable. The difference in the same analyte concentrations determined for the multiple sampling stations located within the same bayou varied 1 to 2 orders of magnitude and over 2 orders of magnitude for the 20 sampling stations located in the three bayous. A within-bayou sediment contaminant gradient was evident; sediment quality generally improved for those sampling stations located nearer the entrance to Pensacola Bay. Consequently, the three bayous serve as sediment contaminant sinks reducing the risk of adverse biological effects occurring in Florida's fourth largest estuarine system.