Predicting Sediment Toxicity at Former Manufactured Gas Plants Using Equilibrium Partitioning Benchmarks for PAH Mixtures

摘要

Sediment toxicity at former manufactured gas plants using equilibrium partitioning benchmarks for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mixtures was assessed. Sediment samples collected at the New York and New Jersey sites were analyzed for 34 PAHs using U.S. EPA SW846 Method 8270C, with the modification of the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode of operation. Concentrations of total PAHs in sediments ranged from 9 mg/kg to greater than 5,000 mg/kg. Concentrations of total organic carbon ranged from 0.7 to 6.8% of sediment dry weight. Concentrations of black carbon ranged from 0.06% to 2.8% of sediment dry weight, and from 3% to 81% as a percent of total organic carbon (TOC).