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GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION IN NEW BEDFORD HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS
Citation:
Pruell, R., C. Norwood, R. Bowen, W.S. Boothman, P. Rogerson, M. Hackett, AND B. Butterworth. GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION IN NEW BEDFORD HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-90/242 (NTIS PB91116962), 1990.
Description:
Chemical analyses of sediment samples collected along a transect in New Bedford harbor revealed a gradient of increasing concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and several trace metals from the southern to the northern areas of the estuary. lthough the concentrations of contaminant generally increased with distance north in he estuary for all classes of compounds, differences were observed between the trends for many of the compounds. hese differences are probably due to both the sources and differential environmental behaviors of the compounds in the estuary. he primary sources of PCBs, PCDFs, and trace metals appear to be industrial discharges either directly into the estuary or through combined sewer overflows. dditional inputs of PCDfs may have also impacted the lower portions of the harbor. hese inputs may be from the combustion of sewage.