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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Marilyn M. Williams, BA, MS, PhD Stud, Environmental and Occupational Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs BLVD, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, 8139745291, mwillia2@hsc.usf.edu

Tampa Bay estuary is an important source of freshwater and seafood to southwest Florida and has been adversely impacted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) resulting in ecotoxicological effects in aquatic species. The sources that contribute to PAHs in the sediments in Tampa Bay are not well characterized but could be from direct spills or discharges of petroleum product, non-point source pollution carried to the bay in surface water runoff, atmospheric deposition of combustion by-products, natural seeps and processing of organic matter by microorganisms.

Modeling the fate and transport of PAHs between sediment, water and air may provide important clues on the potential for one or more of these pathways to contribute significantly to the PAH concentrations in the bay sediments.

In May 2005 a sampling event was performed in the Hillsborough River where it meets Hillsborough Bay to test a sampling method for dissolved PAHs and to obtain input parameters to validate the model. Semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were deployed in the river for 28 days to obtain water concentrations for dissolved PAHs. The dissolved PAH concentrations along with previously obtained atmospheric and sediment concentrations were used as input constraints to the mass balance model.

Following the analysis, equilibrium concentrations were calculated and a mass balance model was developed to determine the fate and transport of 4 representative (2-,3-,4-, and 5-ringed) PAHs. Based on the results there is possibly an outside source of PAHs, e.g., stormwater runoff, contributing to concentrations in the river other than atmospheric deposition and sediment resuspension.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Understand fate and transport of polycyclic aromatic hydocarbons.
• 2.Evaluate concentrations related to ecotoxicological impacts on aquatic species.
• 3.Relate concentrations to National Recommended Water Quality Standards.

Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Water Quality

Related Web page: myweb.usf.edu/~mwilli29/index.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered