Increase In Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Research Articles

Emission characteristics of naphthalene from ship exhausts under global sulfur cap

The global sulfur limit regulation mandates the use of 0.5 % low sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) to reduce emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). However, the addition of naphthalene (Nap) to LSFO to stabilize its quality has led to an increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with Nap being the main pollutant. This study investigates the effects of Nap in ship exhaust by analyzing the emission concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Nap in the exhaust of 16 ships, including 2 container ships, 6 bulk carriers, 1 tanker, 2 ferries, 3 fishing vessels, and 2 harbor crafts, based on USEPA method TO-15A. The results show that the percentage of Nap emissions in the exhaust gases of the 16 ship engines ranged from 77 % to 97 % of the total volatile organic compound (TVOC). The Nap concentration in the exhaust of fishing vessels, tanker, and harbor craft exceeded the occupational exposure limit of 50,000 μg/m3, with fishing vessels having the highest TVOC and Nap concentrations. The enhanced Nap emission in the air degrades air quality in port cities and poses an obvious potential public health risk. While the benefits of the global sulfur cap are being secured, additional efforts should be made to reduce the undetected side effects. Alternative stabilizers of LSFO should be considered, or Nap emission control should be boosted to mitigate the potential negative impact on harbor air quality.

Coupling of Anammox Activity and PAH Biodegradation: Current Insights and Future Directions

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) has shown success in past years for the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater containing inorganic nutrients (i.e., nitrogen). However, the increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated matrices calls for new strategies for efficient and environmentally sustainable remediation. Therefore, the present review examined the literature on the connection between the anammox process and PAHs using VOSviewer to shed light on the mechanisms involved during PAH biodegradation and the key factors affecting anammox bacteria. The scientific literature thoroughly discussed here shows that PAHs can be involved in nitrogen removal by acting as electron donors, and their presence does not adversely affect the anammox bacteria. Anammox activity can be improved by regulating the operating parameters (e.g., organic load, dissolved oxygen, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio) and external supplementation (i.e., calcium nitrate) that promote changes in the microbial community (e.g., Candidatus Jettenia), favoring PAH degradation. The onset of a synergistic dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium and partial denitrification can be beneficial for PAH and nitrogen removal.

Environmental Impacts of Hurricane Harvey on the Neches-Brakes Bayou River System in Beaumont, Texas.

Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented floods across large regions of Southeast Texas resulting in several infrastructural issues. One of the notable failures was of a drinking water source pump in Beaumont, Texas, that necessitated the emergency use of a temporary pump intake station in the Neches River system. This study examines the environmental consequences of Harvey-induced flooding in the Neches River system by focusing on sensitive locations, including a Superfund site (International Creosoting, IC) and adjacent to the temporary pump intake. Post-Harvey water samples showed greater than two orders of magnitude increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) about 3 weeks after Harvey (350-420 µg L-1 on September 22) at locations adjacent to IC and the temporary water pump intake, which by that time was no longer in use. The organic carbon normalized PAH measurements in the heavily contaminated water samples from both locations (~3% w/w) agreed well with surficial soil/sediment samples collected at the east bank adjacent to the IC site (0.7-5.2% w/w). Furthermore, molecular diagnostic ratios of select PAHs supported the contribution of PAHs from the IC site into the surface waters. PAH measurements were consistent with sediment resuspension by floodwaters that were initially diluted by large flows but became more significant as the flood subsided. Overall, our data showed that flooding can cause high levels of contamination weeks after the initial flooding event, with potential for cascading risks through mobilization of pollutants from source areas and impacts to critical water infrastructure systems.

Identification of the Specific Spoilage Organism in Farmed Sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) Fillets and Its Associated Quality and Flavour Change during Ice Storage.

Hybrid sturgeon, a popular commercial fish, plays important role in the aquaculture in China, while its spoilage during storage significantly limits the commercial value. In this study, the specific spoilage organisms (SSOs) from ice stored-sturgeon fillet were isolated and identified by analyzing their spoilage related on sensory change, microbial growth, and biochemical properties, including total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and proteolytic degradation. In addition, the effect of the SSOs on the change of volatile flavor compounds was evaluated by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas mandelii, and Shewanella putrefaciens were the main SSOs in the ice stored-sturgeon fillet, and significantly affect the odors by changing the volatile compounds in the sturgeon. Compared with the fresh sturgeon, the appreciable increase of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and tetramethyl-pyrazine might be the spoilage indicators of the sturgeon contaminated by P. fluorescens; the appreciable increase of 1-octen-3-ol and (z)-2-penten-1-o might be the potential marker of the sturgeon contaminated by P. mandelii; and the appreciable increase of 1-(3,3-dimethylbicyclo [2.2.1] hept-2-yl)-ethanon and butylated hydroxytoluene were associated with S. putrefaciens. This study reveals the relationship between the SSOs and flavor changes in sturgeon fillets, which will contribute to the sturgeon preservation and shelf-life extension.

Nationwide increase of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ultrafine particles during winter over China revealed by size-segregated measurements

Abstract. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic compounds in the atmosphere and have adverse effects on public health, especially through the inhalation of particulate matter (PM). At present, there is limited understanding of the size distribution of particulate-bound PAHs and their health risks on a continental scale. In this study, we carried out a PM campaign from October 2012 to September 2013 at 12 sampling sites simultaneously, including urban, suburban and remote sites in different regions of China. Size-segregated PAHs and typical tracers of coal combustion (picene), biomass burning (levoglucosan) and vehicle exhaust (hopanes) were measured. The annual averages of the 24 total measured PAHs (∑24PAHs) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) carcinogenic equivalent concentration (BaPeq) ranged from 7.56 to 205 ng/m3 with a mean of 53.5 ng/m3 and from 0.21 to 22.2 ng/m3 with a mean of 5.02 ng/m3, respectively. At all the sites, ∑24PAHs and BaPeq were dominant in the ultrafine particles with aerodynamic diameter < 1.1 µm, followed by those in the size ranges of 1.1–3.3 µm and > 3.3 µm. Compared with southern China, northern China witnessed much higher ∑24PAHs (87.36 vs. 17.56 ng/m3), BaPeq (8.48 vs. 1.34 ng/m3) and PAHs' inhalation cancer risk (7.4 × 10−4 vs. 1.2 × 10−4). Nationwide increases in both PAH levels and inhalation cancer risk occurred in winter. The unfavorable meteorological conditions and enhanced emissions of coal combustion and biomass burning together led to severe PAHs' pollution and high cancer risk in the atmosphere of northern China, especially during winter. Coal combustion is the major source of BaPeq in all size particles at most sampling sites. Our results suggested that the reduction of coal and biofuel consumption in the residential sector could be crucial and effective in lowering PAH concentrations and their inhalation cancer risk in China.

The deterioration of bio-oil and catalyst during the catalytic upgrading of biomass pyrolysis volatiles

ABSTRACT The tin (Sn)-modified HZSM-5 was employed to upgrade biomass pyrolysis volatiles to prepare bio-oil, and the deterioration of bio-oil and catalyst was focused. A new parameter indicating the physicochemical properties was defined as the comprehensive fuel-grade index (CFI). The catalyst initially demonstrated the better performance to transform oxygen-containing organics to hydrocarbons; consequently, the bio-oil had a higher CFI value. The fresh catalyst produced 33.43% of bio-oil with the higher hydrocarbon content of 41.60%, and the proportions of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) and light aliphatic hydrocarbons (LAHs) reached 74.59% and 20.02%, respectively. However, with the extension of catalyst using-time, the obvious decrease of hydrocarbons caused the significant decrease of CFI. Furthermore, the cracking and reforming diffusion performance supported by the acid and textural properties of the catalyst deteriorated severely, which contributed to the proportion increase of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The decrease of the acid and textural properties were attributed to the coke generated and deposited into the pores and on the surface of the catalyst. The deposited cokes could be divided into two types including semihydrogenated coke and carbonaceous coke, and the former was the main one. The carbonaceous coke was formed in the initial stage of catalytic reaction, gradually inducing more precursors to cover active sites and block pores, and then generated more semihydrogenated coke, eventually causing the catalyst performance deterioration. This study provided an insight for improving sustainability in terms of understanding process deterioration.

Nitrate-assisted biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water-level-fluctuation zone of the three Gorges Reservoir, China: Insights from in situ microbial interaction analyses and a microcosmic experiment.

An increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution poses significant challenges to human and ecosystem health in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) of the Yangtze River. Based on the combination of PAH analysis with qPCR and high-throughput sequencing of bacteria, 32 topsoil samples collected from 16 sites along the TGR were used to investigate the distribution and biodegradation pathways of PAHs in the water-level-fluctuation zone (WLFZ). The results indicated that the concentrations of PAHs were 43.8-228.2 and 30.8-206.3ng/g soil (dry weight) under the high- and low-water-level (HWL and LWL) conditions, respectively. The PAH concentration in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas. Under both the HWL and LWL conditions, the abundance of the bamA gene, a biomarker of anaerobic PAH biodegradation, was significantly higher than that of the ring-hydroxylating-dioxygenase (RHD) gene, a biomarker of aerobic PAH biodegradation. The abundance of the bamA gene was significantly positively correlated with PAHs (R2=0.8), and the biodegradation percentage of PAHs incubated anaerobically was greater than that in the aerobically incubated microcosm experiments. These data implicated a key role of the anaerobic pathway in PAH biodegradation. Co-occurrence network analysis suggested that anaerobic Anaerolineaceae, Dechloromonas, Bacteroidetes_vadin HA17 and Geobacter were key participants in the biodegradation of PAHs. The diversity analysis of functional bacteria based on the bamA gene and microcosm experiments further demonstrated that nitrate was the primary electron acceptor for PAH biodegradation. These findings provide a new perspective on the mechanism of PAH biodegradation in the TGR and knowledge that can be used to develop strategies for environmental management.

Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in soils around two typical lakes in the western Tian Shan Mountains (Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia): Local burden or global distillation?

Abstract The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world natural heritage Tian Shan Mountains, situated in Central Asia, have experienced a dramatic increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination, not only because of increasing volumes of tourism-derived traffic but also because of the atmospheric transport of polluted westerly winds under global distillation effect. To assess the significance of two possible sources of PAHs, 16 priority PAHs were determined in 39 soil samples collected in August 2013 around Lake Issyk-Kul (YKR, 1606 m) and Lake Son-Kul (SKR, 3010 m) as typical mountain lakes in the western Tian Shan Mountains. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 52 ng/g dw to 9439 ng/g dw. The highest PAH levels were found in the industrial and urban areas of the YKR (>1000 ng/g dw); however higher levels were in the agricultural and rural areas of two regions (300–1000 ng/g dw), both dominated by 4-,5-ringed PAHs. In contrast, the lowest PAH levels (

Comparison of the one-step and two-step plasma-catalytic upgrading of biomass pyrolysis volatiles to bio-fuel

The non-thermal plasma technology by employing pulsed dielectric barrier discharge manner was introduced for bio-fuel preparation, and the HZSM-5 and Ti/HZSM-5 were selected as catalyst respectively. Configurations of plasma-catalytic system were compared from the aspects of bio-fuel yield and property, energy efficiency, bio-fuel composition, reaction pathway and catalyst stability. The results showed that the one-step configuration using Ti/HZSM-5 gave the 15.05% of bio-fuel yield and the total hydrocarbon content of 77.56%, and the expected hydrocarbons were occupied the highest proportion of 68.89%, contributing to the higher hydrogen retention ratio, so the calorific value reached 36.52MJ/kg. The two-step configuration slightly increased the total hydrocarbons (77.79%), while the prolongation of reaction pathway was not conducive to the retention of hydrogen, and the increase of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons made some properties worse. The energy consumption of plasma technology occupied 11.63% of the total, which was not so significant in general. Radical reactions and catalytic reactions might be induced in both configurations, and the one-step configuration could show more and stronger multiple interactions. The coking rates of Ti/HZSM-5 employed in the one-step and two-step configurations were 5.24% and 7.50%. To summarize, the one-step configuration using Ti/HZSM-5 showed obvious advantages.

Characterizing the variability of benthic foraminifera in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon event (2010-2012).

Following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) event in 2010 subsurface hydrocarbon intrusions (1000-1300m) and an order of magnitude increase in flocculent hydrocarbon deposition caused increased concentrations of hydrocarbons in continental slope sediments. This study sought to characterize the variability [density, Fisher's alpha (S), equitability (E), Shannon (H)] of benthic foraminifera following the DWH event. A series of sediment cores were collected at two sites in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico from 2010 to 2012. At each site, three cores were utilized for benthic faunal analysis, organic geochemistry, and redox metal chemistry, respectively. The surface intervals (∼0-10mm) of the sedimentary records collected in December 2010 at DSH08 and February 2011 at PCB06 were characterized by significant decreases in foraminiferal density, S, E, and H, relative to the down-core intervals as well as previous surveys. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis suggested that a 3-fold increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration in the surface interval, relative to the down-core interval, was the environmental driver of benthic foraminiferal variability. These records suggested that the benthic foraminiferal recovery time, following an event such as the DWH, was on the order of 1-2years.

Evidence for persistent organic pollutants released from melting glacier in the central Tibetan Plateau, China

Glacier alluvial deposits record persistent organic pollutants (POPs) not only derived from the atmospheric deposition but also from the release of glacial melting. The evidence for melting glacier in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) as a secondary source of pollutants is introduced through investigating the concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in four deposited profiles collected at the edge of the Changwengluozha glacier. Two concentration peaks were observed for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) in the past century. The first peak was observed in the 1970s, corresponding with the heavy usage of HCHs and DDTs in the surrounding countries and regions. The second one was in 2000 when the production and usage of DDTs and HCHs were strictly limited, which possibly indicated a significant release from melting glacier. This result was further supported by the enantiomeric fraction values for α-HCH and o,p′-DDT. On the other hand, the dramatic increase of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from atmospheric deposition, which was associated with the socioeconomic development in Tibet, shaded the release of PAHs from melting glacier. This study reveals not only the air deposition history of legacy POPs but also a substantial release of OCPs from glacier to the adjacent environment. Our research supports the hypothesis that the melting glacier in the TP represents a secondary source of OCPs, which is consistent with the findings in the Alps glaciers.

Increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions due to briquetting: A challenge to the coal briquetting policy

Both China and UNEP recommend replacing raw coal chunks with coal briquettes in household sector as clean coal technology (CCT), which has been confirmed by the decreased emissions of particulate matter and black carbon. However, the clean effect has never been systematically checked by other pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, 5 coals with different geological maturities were processed as both chunks and briquettes and burned in 3 typical coal stoves for the measurement of emission factors (EFs) of particle-bound PAHs. It was found that the EFs of 16 parent PAHs, 26 nitrated PAHs, 6 oxygenated PAHs, and 8 alkylated PAHs for coal briquettes were 6.90 ± 7.89, 0.04 ± 0.03, 0.65 ± 0.40, and 72.78 ± 18.23 mg/kg, respectively, which were approximately 3.1, 3.7, 1.9, and 171 times those for coal chunks, respectively. Such significant increases in PAH emissions increased human health risk and challenged the policy of CCT.

Molecular growth of PAH-like systems induced by oxygen species: experimental and theoretical study of the reaction of naphthalene with HO (2Π3/2), O (3P), and O2 (3Σ−g)

To assess if reactions with oxygen species can induce a mass increase of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, we exposed naphthalene molecules to an oxidative gas flow containing the radicals H and HO (2Π3/2) and the diradicals O (3P) and O2 (3Σ−g).

Coke Formation during Thermal Decomposition of Methylcyclohexane by Alkyl Substituted C5 Ring Hydrocarbons under Supercritical Conditions

In this study, a mechanism for coke formation of methylcyclohexane (MCH) was investigated by sampling products in a batch type reactor during thermal decomposition. Alkyl substituted C5 ring hydrocarbons, which have a 5-member ring structure with alkyl groups as side chains, were the major products of thermal decomposition of MCH before coke formation (below 465 °C). The composition of alkyl substituted C5 ring hydrocarbons gradually increased without any decrease during the reactions before coke formation. The composition of alkyl substituted C5 ring hydrocarbons decreased after considerable increase, when coke formation occurred as 0.084 g coke/ml MCH for 10 h at 465 °C. Coke was formed via an increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Based on this result, it was hypothesized that the abundance of alkyl substituted C5 ring hydrocarbons caused the formation of PAHs and coke. To identify the role of alkyl substituted C5 ring hydrocarbons on coke formation, thermal decomposition of MCH with 1,2,...

Sedimentological, palynological and geochemical studies of the terrestrial Triassic–Jurassic boundary in northwestern Poland

AbstractThe Kamień Pomorski IG-1 borehole (Pomerania, NW Poland) yields a profile through the Triassic–Jurassic (T–J) transition in continental deposits. An integrated study of the sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, palynology, biostratigraphy and geochemistry of these deposits has been carried out on the boundary interval, which represents a time of major environmental change. Two lithological units within the transitional section are distinguished: the Lower–Middle Rhaetian Wielichowo Beds of alluvial plain facies, which shows evidence of a semi-arid climate, and the Upper Rhaetian to Lower Hettangian Zagaje Formation, lying above a marked erosional sequence boundary, composed of mudstone-claystone and sandstone deposited in a fluvial-lacustrine environment. Carbon isotope values obtained from palynomaceral separates, and thus reflecting isotopic changes in atmospheric CO2, show significant fluctuations through the Rhaetian; the most conspicuous negative δ13Corgexcursion is correlated with the Rhaetian ‘initial’ excursion and shows two sub-peaks, pointing to short-term carbon-cycle disturbances of lesser magnitude. Above the ‘initial’ negative excursion, there is a positive excursion followed again by more negative values, representing subordinate fluctuation within a positive excursion and is correlated with the T–J boundary. Seventy-two miospore taxa have been determined from the studied T–J transitional section. Two major palynological assemblages have been distinguished: the lower one, typically Rhaetian, named theCingulizonates rhaeticus–Limbosporites lundblandiiassociation, which corresponds to theRhaetipollis–Ricciisporites(=Rhaetipollis–Limbosporites) Zone; and the upper one, typically Hettangian, named theConbaculatisporites mesozoicus– Dictyophyllidites mortoni–Cerebropollenites thiergartiiassociation (with the age-diagnostic pollenC.thiergartii), which corresponds to thePinuspollenites–Trachysporites(= Trachysporites–Heliosporites) Zone. The T–J palynofloral turnover occurred in a humid period and is more conspicuous then palynofloral changes observed in Greenland, the Tethyan domain or other parts of NE Europe. The osmium isotope system is studied herein for the first time from T–J continental deposits and shows marked disturbances similar to those measured in marine deposits and attributed to volcanic fallout. Carbon and osmium isotope correlation and coeval increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content and darkening of miospores confirm that eruptions of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) contributed to the perturbances in climate and crisis in the terrestrial biosphere. A series of periodical atmospheric loading by CO2, CH4or alternatively by SO2, sulphate aerosols and toxic compounds is inferred to have caused a series of rapid climatic reversals, directly influencing the ecosystem and causing the Triassic floral crisis. A floral turnover period commenced at the ‘initial’ δ13C excursion, with the onset of CAMP volcanism. Obtained values of initial187Os/186Os between 2.905 and 4.873 and very low iridium content (about 5 ppt) lend no support to a role for an extraterrestrial impact at the T–J boundary event. The position of the ‘initial’ negative carbon isotope excursion about 12 m below the T–J boundary, position of sequence boundaries (emergence surfaces) and other isotope excursions allow reliable correlation with marine profiles, including St Audrie's Bay (UK), Csövár (Hungary) and the GSSP profile at Kuhjoch (Austria).

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Increase in Athabasca River Delta Sediment: Temporal Trends and Environmental Correlates

The Athabasca River in Alberta, Canada, flows north through an area undergoing extensive bitumen resource extraction and processing before discharging its water and sediments into the Athabasca Delta and Lake Athabasca. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been identified as an environmental concern in the region. We analyzed environmental data collected by the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program and government agencies to determine whether temporal trends exist in the concentration of sediment PAHs in the Athabasca River Delta. We then determined what environmental factors related to the trends in sediment PAH concentrations. Total PAH concentrations in the sediment of the Athabasca River Delta increased between 1999 and 2009 at a rate of 0.05 mg/kg/yr ± 0.02 s.e. Annual bitumen production and mined sand volume, extent of landscape disturbance, and particulate emissions were correlated with sediment PAH concentrations as were total organic carbon in sediment and discharge of the Clearwater River, a major tributary of the Athabasca River. Within four tributaries of the Athabasca River, only the Clearwater River showed a significant correlation between discharge and sediment PAH concentration at their river mouths. Carefully designed studies are required to further investigate which factors best explain variability in sediment PAH concentrations.

Panthalassic oceanic anoxia at the end of the Early Triassic: A cause of delay in the recovery of life after the end-Permian mass extinction

Fossil data show that the recovery of life after the end-Permian mass extinction occurred in the Anisian (early Middle Triassic). The process by which oceanic environments recovered from anoxia after the end-Permian event is uncertain. To determine the timing of known recovery stages, the nature of oceanic redox conditions and the health of cyanobacterial plankton populations, this study analyses conodonts and organic molecules from siliceous claystones and cherts from accretionary complexes in Japan that span the upper Lower Triassic to the lowermost Middle Triassic. Conodonts indicate that the study section ranges from upper Olenekian to Anisian, and includes the Olenekian/Anisian boundary. An increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (probably derived from algae dominated organic matter) and a decrease in methylhopane index (2α-methylhopane/hopane, a measure of cyanobacterial activity) are present in end-Olenekian black chert. Pristane/phytane ratios (a measure of redox conditions) in all stratigraphic units are lower than 1, indicating the prevalence of deep-sea anoxia during the late Olenekian to Anisian. High concentrations of dibenzothiophene (an index of anoxic depositional environments), high sulphur/carbon ratios, and high organic carbon contents are present in two upper Olenekian intervals and at the end of the upper Olenekian, suggesting development of anoxic deep water. One of the anoxic events in the end of the upper Olenekian coincided with decreased radiolarian diversity. This implies that anoxic deep water in the Panthalassic Ocean reached intermediate water depths at the end of the Early Triassic, killing marine organisms including radiolaria. This event may be related to the delay in the recovery of life and environments after the end-Permian mass extinction.

Seasonal increases in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons related to two-stroke engine use in a small Alaskan lake

To determine if hydrocarbon levels in salmon-rearing lakes are affected by seasonal increases in the number of two-stroke powered watercraft, passive hydrocarbon sampling devices were deployed in Auke Lake in southeast Alaska for five successive summers (1999–2003). Estimates of the number of two-stroke powered water craft were made by daily census in 2003. Passive samplers mimic the bioconcentration of trace waterborne lipophilic contaminants by living organisms and are used worldwide for in situ monitoring of organic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Monthly increases in PAHs coincided with monthly increases in the number of two-stroke powered watercraft (jet skis and powerboats) on the lake during the summer. This increase in PAHs varied in magnitude from year to year. PAHs were detected in the surface waters (1 m), particularly in high use areas, and were not detected at 9 m depth. These localized seasonal inputs appeared to come primarily from recreational watercraft rather than from runoff. Alaska's recreational boating season is very compressed and coincides with migrations of anadromous fish. Increased use of two-stroke engines may transfer enough hydrocarbons to the lake to affect fish populations.

USGS PAH contaminants studies could be among budget cut victims

Traffic congestion, smog, and loss of open space and wildlife habitat are among the unwelcome effects of sprawl development in many urban areas in the United States. However, another problem that the typical commuter may not be as aware of is the increases in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that degrade air and water quality and that may be linked to urban sprawl and traffic on the roadways.