Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4477469 | Marine Pollution Bulletin | 2008 | 11 Pages |
The distribution of PAHs was studied in sediment and false dark mussels, Mytilopsis leucophaeata, of three brackish stormwater retention ponds on Kiawah Island, a gated residential community and golf resort. Impervious surface in pond watersheds ranged from 5 to 30%. Sediment concentrations were lower than those found in other studies of suburban residential areas, and there were no significant differences among ponds or seasons. Mean ∑PAH16 values for sediments in Ponds 67, 100, and 37 were 184.7 ± 101.3 ng g−1, 67.5 ± 26.0 ng g−1, and 84.3 ± 75.5 ng g−1, respectively. Mussel ∑PAH16 concentrations from Pond 67 in August (mean 734.5 ± 148.1 ng g−1), and from Pond 37 in December (mean 1115.1 ± 87.7 ng g−1), were significantly higher than other ponds. Mean ∑PAH16 values for mussels in Ponds 67, 100, and, 37 were 555.9 ± 219.7 ng g−1, 312.5 ± 99.1 ng g−1 and 737.8 ± 419.8 ng g−1, respectively. The mean biota-to-sediment ratio was 7.6 ± 8.1. Isomer ratios generally suggested pyrogenic sources. False dark mussels are a promising indicator species for PAH contamination because they are abundant, easy to sample, bioaccumulate PAH profiles representative of the time-integrated sediment profiles, and their PAH levels are less variable than either stormwater or sediment samples.