Comparison of high-performance liquid chromatography/fluorescence screening and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis for aromatic compounds in sediments sampled after the Exxon Valdez oil spill

Abstract

After the grounding of the Exxon Valdez, sediment samples were collected to determine the degree and distribution of the oiling. Sixty sediments from 10 sites in Prince William Sound, AK, were analyzed for Prudhoe Bay crude oil (PBCO) using a rapid HPLC screening method that measured fluorescence at wavelength pairs specific for twoand three-ring petroleum-related aromatic compounds (ACs). Concentrations of individual ACs in the sediments were also determined by GC/MS to compare the results of the two methods. Concentrations of ACs measured by HPLC screening were highly correlated with the sums of ACs determined by GC/MS, thus validating the screening method as an effective tool for estimating concentrations of petroleum-related ACs in sediments. Moreover, differences in HPLC chromatographic patterns among sediments suggested different sources of contamination, e.g., crude oil or diesel fuel. Finally, GC/MS analyses confirmed that PBCO was a primary source of contamination in many sediments.

Recovery of Pink Salmon Spawning Areas after theExxon ValdezOil Spill

“…Hydrocarbon analysis.-All samples were first analyzed by ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF) adapted from Krahn et al (1991Krahn et al ( , 1993 as described by Babcock et al (1996) to measure total concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons. Based on results of the UVF analysis, selected samples with detected oil were analyzed further by GC/MS for quantitative determination of individual PAH analytes.…”

Restoration of oiled mussel beds in Prince William Sound, Alaska

“…THC concentrations in sediment were determined by an ultraviolet fluorescence fast-screening technique adapted from Krahn, Ylitalo, Joss, and Chan (1991) and Krahn et al (1993). This method is relatively fast and inexpensive compared with analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS), thus optimizing the number of samples processed.…”

A preliminary investigation into the use of biomarkers for the monitoring of an ocean outfall

“…This could be due either to low PAH content in the diluted effluent or to an insufficient exposure period for PAHs to achieve steady-state concentration in the fish. Bile fluorescence has been previously shown to be a very sensitive indicator of PAH exposure in fish, and has been correlated with specific toxic PAHs such as benzo(a)pyrene (Hellou and Payne, 1987;Britvic et al, 1993;Krahn et al, 1993;Upshall et al, 1993). However, most of these studies were carried out using fish that had experienced long-term exposure to polluted water or sediment.…”

“…A 25 p L aliquot was removed and diluted to 1 mL prior to measuring fluorescence on a Hitachi F-4500 fluorescence spectrophotometer. The excitation/emission wavelength pairs 290/335, 280/385, 256/380, and 380/430 nm were selected (Hellou and Payne, 1987;Krahn et al, 1993;Upshall et al, 1993), and correspond to the analysis of naphthyl glucuronides, conjugate cleaved naphthyls, phenanthrenes and their metabolites, and benzo(a) pyrene and its metabolites, respectively.…”