Hydrocarbons in St. Clair River Sediments

Abstract

Abstract A survey of St. Clair River sediments at Sarnia, Ontario, showed that the highest concentrations of normal alkanes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons occurred in the vicinity of the petrochemical industrial area on the Canadian side of the river. The absence of an odd-carbon predominance in the alkanes, and the presence of several alkylated polyaromatics indicate a petroleum source for both classes of hydrocarbons. Both classes of compounds were present, at increased concentrations, in the lower sections of two shallow cores. The distribution of organics reflected the highly localized character of inputs, currents, and sediments.