Acute toxicity of estuarine wetland sediments contaminated by petroleum

摘要

A study evaluating sediment toxicity in an estuarine marshland near Houston, Texas, was conducted following a major petroleum pipeline rupture during a flood event. Acute sediment toxicity was measured by performing the Microtox bioassay 100/100 Test on elutriates from wet sediment samples collected from experimental plots in the study area. Samples were collected over a seven-month period following the spill. Toxic responses were examined for spatial and temporal relationships within the cove and compared to total extractable materials (TEM), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), and GC-MS quantified total saturates and aromatics and target polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).