RESUMO
Two US Virgin Islands marinas were examined for potential metal impacts by comparing sediment chemistry data with two sediment quality guideline (SQG) values: the ratio of simultaneously extractable metals to acid volatile sulfides (SEM-AVS), and effects range-low and -mean (ERL-ERM) values. ERL-ERMs predicted the marina/boatyard complex (IBY: 2118 microg/g dry weight total metals, two exceeded ERMs) would have greater impacts than the marina with no boatyard (CBM: 231 microg/g dry weight total metals, no ERMs exceeded). The AVS-SEM method predicted IBY would have fewer effects due to high AVS-forming metal sulfide complexes, reducing trace metal bioavailability. These contradictory predictions demonstrate the importance of validating the results of either of these methods with other toxicity measures before making any management or regulatory decisions regarding boating and marina impacts. This is especially important in non-temperate areas where sediment quality guidelines have not been validated.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental , Sedimentos Geológicos/análise , Metais/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Arsênio/análise , Arsênio/toxicidade , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Monitoramento Ambiental/normas , Guias como Assunto , Metais/toxicidade , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Selênio/análise , Selênio/toxicidade , Ilhas Virgens Americanas , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidadeRESUMO
Differences in sediment contaminant concentrations within two marinas and adjacent to the marinas in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands were compared to calculate the portion of those contaminants due to marina activities. In marina 1 (containing no vessel maintenance areas, but with a fuel dock) 88% of observed PAHs and 0% of metals were attributed to marina activities. In the marina/boatyard complex, 46% of PAHs and 89% of metals were attributed to marina sources. The distance from storm drain discharges, and sediment characteristics play a greater role in the distribution and fate of pollutants than do activities associated with a given marina station. The data also provided some evidence that the protection marinas offer to vessels from wind, currents, and waves may concentrate contaminants.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental/estatística & dados numéricos , Poluentes Ambientais/análise , Sedimentos Geológicos/análise , Metais Pesados/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análise , Análise de Variância , Praguicidas/análise , Bifenilos Policlorados/análise , Navios , Ilhas Virgens AmericanasRESUMO
Studies were conducted to assess the factors that may influence the rate and extent of biodegradation of biphenyl, naphthalene, phenanthrene, pentachlorophenol (PCP) and p-nitrophenol in water samples collected from the Guayanilla Bay (18 degrees N; 67.45 degrees W), southwest of Puerto Rico. In vitro studies mediated slow degradation of biphenyl, naphthalene and phenanthrene substrates by natural microbial flora present in the Bay. Addition of KNO(3) as a source of inorganic N greatly enhanced the degradation of phenanthrene but not of naphthalene, suggesting that effects on degradation due to nutrient limitation were compound specific. The rate and extent of degradation of naphthalene and PCP were higher in water samples collected closer to the source of contamination, i.e. the petrochemical complex. The identity of a phenanthrene degrading bacterium, previously identified by conventional phenotypic method (Zaidi et al., Utilizing Nature's Advanced Materials, Oxford Unviersity Press, 1999) as Alteromonas sp., was confirmed by partial DNA sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene.