Abstract:

Three transects were established with stations at 5 mile intervals to cover the shelf and the head of DeSoto Canyon from the shoreline out to 3-400 ft depth: due south of Pensacola FL, due south of Destin FL, and running SSW from Panama City FL. Funding and shiptime was provided by the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) with the R/V Bellows and the R/V Weatherbird. Samples from the Pensacola Transect were also taken on a cruise during June of 2010 during the oil spill event. Triplicate Shipek® grab samples of sediments were taken during monthly cruises with surface layers collected as composite samples. Sediments were extracted using standard techniques, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were quantified as Napthalenes, Phenanthrenes, and Chrysenes by GCMS using 13C standards.

Suggested Citation:

Snyder, Richard A.. 2015. Naphthalenes, Phenanthrenes, and Chrysenes in Northwest Florida Continental Shelf Sediments, May-June 2010. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7BV7DJX

Publications:

Snyder, R. A., Ederington-Hagy, M., Hileman, F., Moss, J. A., Amick, L., Carruth, R., … Jeffrey, W. H. (2014). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations across the Florida Panhandle continental shelf and slope after the BP MC 252 well failure. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 89(1-2), 201–208. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.09.057

Purpose:

We have conducted a series of monthly research cruises in the northern Gulf of Mexico on the continental shelf of the western Florida Panhandle to determine the presence and fate of any residual oil and particularly PAHs from the BP-Deepwater Horizon Macondo Field 252 oil well failure (BP MC252).

Data Parameters and Units:

PAH: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (also called Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) are compounds built from two or more benzene rings Date :The Date that the sample was taken Intertidal: Intertidal samples were taken between the high tide mark where sand was being washed by waves. Media: Material sampled rpl: Indicates replicate sample Sample ID: Unique number given to each sample includes month, day, year, and location Sand location: Beach zone where the sample was taken Site: Location of sample's origin Site ID: Unique number given to each site Naph C0: ug naphthalene/kg Naph C1: ug methylnaphthalenes/kg Naph C2: ug dimethylnaphthalenes/kg Naph C3: ug trimethylnaphthalenes/kg Tot Naph: ug sum of C0+C1+C2+C3 naphthalenes/kg Ph C0: ug phenanthrene/kg Ph C1: ug methylphenanthrenes/kg Ph C2: ug dimethylphenanthrenes/kg Ph C3: ug trimethylphenanthrenes/kg Tot Ph: ug Sum of C0+C1+C2+C3 phenanthrenes/kg Ch C0: ug chrysene/kg Ch C1: ug methylchrysenes/kg Ch C2: ug dimethylchrysenes/kg Ch C3: ug trimethylchrysenes/kg Tot Chry: ug Sum of C0+ C1+C2+C3 chrysenes/kg Total PAH: ug Sum of all detected naphthalenes, phenanthrenes, and chrysenes/kg

Methods:

Collection A Chain of Custody Sheet was filled out for samples. Samples were composite samples 1.5-3.0 cm in depth from three Shipek grabbs per site. Extraction Prior to Extraction the sand was dried overnight at room temperature in a laboratory hood and then extracted. The dried sand received 1 gram of sodium sulfate per 10 grams of dried sand prior to extraction. Extractions were three times with dichloromethane and then dried down at 38 C to 1ml volumes for analysis. GC-MS Analysis PAHs were analyzed by GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) using deuterated internal standards of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and chrysene for quantification.

Instruments:

Shipek grab

Individual Files: