| MMS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM: ONGOING STUDIES | ||||||
| MMS OCS Region: | Alaska | |||||
| Title: | Kinetics and Mechanisms of Slow PAH Desorption from Lower Cook Inlet and Beaufort Sea Sediments (AK-93-48-28) | |||||
| Total Cost: | $59,000 | Period of Performance: | FY 1999-2002 | |||
| Conducting Organization: | University of Alaska at Fairbanks, Coastal Marine Institute | |||||
| MMS Contact: | ||||||
| Description: | ||||||
| Background | ||||||
| Adsorption to sediment particles is a key process in determining the transport and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the marine environment. Previous CMI-funded studies of lower Cook Inlet sediments have shown that a substantial part of PAH adsorption is not rapidly reversible. Further study is needed to develop the ability to predict how adsorption and desorption would affect the longer term persistence (and toxicity) of PAH contamination in Alaska marine sediments. Recent Exxon Valdez studies have shown that the residual PAH concentrations in contaminated sediments are more toxic at much lower concentrations than previously estimated. | ||||||
| Objectives | ||||||
The objectives of this study are to test the hypotheses:
The properties of sediment organic matter govern adsorption and desorption of PAH by marine sediments. |
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| Methods | ||||||
| Phenanthrene will be used as a test PAH. Adsorption and desorption of phenanthrene will be measured using radio-labeled phenanthrene at multiple phenanthrene concentrations over adsorption times up to 60 days. Desorption experiments will be followed for up to 180 days or until desorption reaches steady state. Sediments used will include characterized subsamples from CMI studies in nearshore Beaufort Sea and lower Cook Inlet. Coal samples from Cook Inlet are also being used as a substrate. | ||||||
| Importance to MMS | ||||||
| The study will lead to better predictive capability of the environmental fate of PAH, based on effects of sediment organic matter sources and composition on desorption. Understanding differences in sorption between Cook Inlet sediments and Beaufort Sea sediments will help MMS analysts make use of lower information from both planning areas in environmental assessments | ||||||
| Current Status: | ||||||
| Laborartory work has been completed. Two manuscripts have been written for publication and were edited into report format. Submission of the final report is waiting completion and incorporation of a resultant Ph.D. Dissertation. | ||||||
| Final Report Due: | May 2002 | |||||
| Publications: | Henrichs, S. M. 2000. Kinetics and Mechanisms of
Slow PAH Desorption from Lower Cook Inlet and Beaufort Sea Sediments [Abstract]. In
University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute. Annual Report No. 6. Fairbanks, AK,
University of Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, p.76. Henrichs, S. M. and J.A. Terschak. 2000. Kinetics and Mechanisms of Slow PAH Desorption from Lower Cook Inlet and Beaufort Sea Sediments. In University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute. Annual Report No. 7. Fairbanks, AK, University of Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, pp. 42-50. Terschak, J. A., and S. M. Henrichs. 2001. Kinetics and Mechanisms of Slow PAH Desorption From Lower Cook Inlet and Beaufort Sea Sediments. In Alaska OCS Region Eighth Information Transfer Meeting Proceedings, Preparer MBC Applied Environmental Sciences. Anchorage: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region. |
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| Affiliated WWW Sites: | Here is an abstract for a recent presentation on
this project. Visit this website for additional information on phenanthrene biodegradation kinetics. See also the Fate and Transport of Particle-Reactive Normal, Alkylated, and Heterocyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in a Sediment-Water-Colloid System for MMS research in temperate climates. |
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| Revised date: | March 2002 | |||||
| ESPIS |
ESPIS - All completed
ESP Studies: |
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