Investigation of Petroleum in the Marine Environs of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Northern Puget Sound. Part II. (Second-Year Continuation)

摘要

An investigation was initiated in February 1977 to measure existing levels of petroleum hydrocarbons in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Northern Puget Sound, and to investigate spatial and temporal trends in occurrence, concentration, and composition of petroleum-related hydrocarbons. Sediment and mussel samples from 19 stations located along shipping lanes in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Northern Puget Sound were analyzed for alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons. Although the sites were relatively free from petroleum contamination, hydrocarbons indicative of petroleum were found at Cherry Point, Sandy Point, March Point, False Bay, Dungeness/Three Crabs, Ediz Hook, Kydaka Point, and Baadah Point. As a continuation of these studies, sediment samples were collected at ten of these sites three times (summer and fall 1978 and winter 1979) and analyzed for petroleum hydrocarbons. A small oil spill in Port Angeles Harbor on 13 May 1979 afforded an opportunity to evaluate the premise that hydrocarbon concentrations in intertidal sediment and mussels can be used to monitor for spilled oil in this region.