Field Characterization of Potential Reference Sediments in the Gulf of Mexico: Chemical and Biological Quality

Autor: Michael A. Lewis, Peggy S. Harris, Cynthia A. Chancy, Robert L. Quarles, Jed G. Campbell, Darrin D. Dantin
Rok vydání: 2006
Předmět:
Zdroj: Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal. 15:1-20
ISSN: 1549-7887
1532-0383
Popis: Baseline information on the chemical and biological quality of sediments is provided for six coastal locations in the northern Gulf of Mexico, which were considered possible candidates for regional reference areas. Chemical quality, toxicity and benthic community composition were determined for sediments collected three times from each of 12 sites during an approximate one-year period. Potential contaminants in the usually sand-dominated sediments exceeded individual threshold effects level guidelines proposed for Florida coastal areas in approximately 31% of the samples collected from 8 of 12 sites. No probable effects level guidelines were exceeded. Acute toxicity occurred in 16% or less of the sediment samples and no significant chronic toxicity was observed to the infaunal amphipod, Leptocheirus plumulosus. Approximately, 11% and 17% of the sediments were classified as poor or marginal, based on low benthic taxa abundance and diversity index values, respectively. Sediment quality at many sites was les...
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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