| Session III: Posters |
Abstract #: 97304 |
CHARACTERIZATION AND SPECIATION OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN THE MIAMI RIVER
A. Gongora and R. Jaffe
Department of Chemistry & Southeast Environmental Research Program
Florida International University Miami, FL 33199
ABSTRACT
A series of surface sediments throughout the Miami River were sampled and analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sterols. Contamination was found to be widespread with a similar distribution ranging from the upper to the lower portion of the river, suggesting uniform origins of pollutants for all sites. Alkane distributions exhibit maxima at C-17 and C-29, noting a large input of both terrestrial and algal organic matter into the river. High amounts of branched and cyclic alkanes comprising a large unresolved complex mixture also denotes the presence of anthropogenic sources. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 0.69 mg/g - 0.80 mg/g. Total mercury levels were also determined and were between 5.1 and 82.0 mg/g. Pollutant concentrations by sediment grain size showed that all compounds demonstrate a bimodal distribution with highest concentrations, however, occurring in the smallest grain size fraction. This data clearly shows that the Miami River is an important source of organic pollutants to Biscayne Bay.
