Long-term chemical effects of petroleum in south Louisiana wetlands—I. Organic carbon in sediments and waters |
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| Authors: | Thomas Whelan John T Ishmael WS Bishop |
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| Institution: | Coastal Studies Institute Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA |
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| Abstract: | The chemical effects of chronic petroleum input into a shallow water marsh were examined by measuring hydrocarbon levels and dissolved organic carbon content of sediments associated with two active oil fields in south Louisiana. Annual levels of total organic carbon in the surface waters of the oil fields were higher by 1 mg C/l. in the salt marsh and 5 mg C/l. in the fresh marsh than the respective controlsites. Average dissolved organic carbon concentrations in the interstitial waters of cores taken within the oil field environments were 105% higher than the control in the salt marsh and 43% higher than the control in the fresh marsh. Significantly lower ratios of C17 to pristane occurred in both oil field sediments; however, average odd-even predominance values were not indicative of petroleum contaminated sediments. The results indicate that microbial processes are responsible for dissolution of petroleum into dissolved organic carbon and that dissolved organic carbon concentrations may be a more significant measure of chronic petroleum input than hydrocarbon distribution. |
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