Sediment Quality in Depositional Areas of Shelikof Strait and Outermost Cook Inlet

摘要

Because of the need to definitively examine the distribution and environmental risk of anthropogenic chemicals (i.e., metals, petroleum hydrocarbons including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) in advance of any future oil and gas E and P activities that could possibly affect the lower Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait, MMS contracted to undertake a two year study in the region. The objectives of the study were to: (1) Evaluate the Shelikof Strait and outermost Cook Inlet as potential depositional areas or 'traps' for oil industry contaminants; (2) Determine whether contaminant concentrations in sediments of these areas pose an environmental risk; and (3) Determine whether contaminants in these areas have accumulated relative to pre-industry concentrations.