A Source-Receptor Method for Determining Non-Point Sources of PAHs to the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to determine non-point sources of PAHs to the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary. Sediment samples were collected from the Milwaukee River, the Menomonee River, the Kinnickinnic River, and the Inner and Outer Harbor of the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary. Source samples were collected from a major highway, a leaking underground storage tank, and two river banks. All samples were analyzed for sixteen PAHs, which are identified as priority pollutants by the U.S. EPA. In addition to this, literature values of concentrations of PAHs in known non-point sources viz. coal tar, coal tar air emissions, No. 2 fuel oil, and gasoline engine exhaust tar were considered. A computer program, using the mathematics of least-squares, was adopted to determine the best combination of sources to the mixed PAH signature of the sediment, and to calculate the contribution of each source to the concentration of total PAHs. Chi square and the multiple correlation coefficient were used to evaluate the fits. For apportionment of sediment PAHs into sources, only those PAHs are considered whose concentrations are above the instrument's (GC-MS) detection limit. Of the 211 regressions considered, about half present good fits to the proposed sources. Highway dust is found to be a significant source in 88%, gasoline engine exhaust tar in 33%, coal tar air emissions in 23%, and coal tar in 17% of the successful regressions.

Risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a Mediterranean semi-enclosed basin affected by human activities (Abu Qir Bay, Egypt)

“…The concentrations and pattern of PAHs found in sediments have been shown to reflect source characteristics [48]. This can be related to the physico-chemical properties of individual PAHs that influence sediment binding capacity.…”

Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from Zhanjiang Bay and Leizhou Bay, South China

“…The higher concentrations of high molecular weight PAHs than that of low molecular weight PAHs has been commonly observed in sediments from river and marine environments (Lin et al, 2003;Ünlü and Alpar, 2006;Ko et al, 2007;Yan et al, 2009). Obviously, the observed composition The concentrations and pattern of PAHs found in sediments have been shown to reflect source characteristics (Singh et al, 1993). Based on characteristics in PAH composition and distribution pattern, the sources of anthropogenic PAHs, which are formed mainly via combustion processes and release of uncombusted products, can be distinguished by ratios of individual PAH compounds.…”

Apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sources in lower Fox River, USA, sediments by a chemical mass balance model

“…After entering the environment, PAHs are widely dispersed through atmospheric transport or stream pathways, and eventually, they accumulate in soils and aquatic sediments. Poly‐cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic sediments may serve as tracers for identification of the sources of these organic pollutants [3–5].…”