Sediment and and oyster (Crassostrea virginica) samples processed for polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations, Grand Bay, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan, 2010-2011

Fifteen sediment samples and fifty oyster (Crassostrea virginica) samples processed for polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in collaboration with other sentinel macrofauna research team members. Twelve sediment samples were processed during the experimental design phase to help establish the experimental design. Three sites were chosen for long-term study; these were Grand Bay, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan, Alabama. Oysters were recovered from the from sites after ~2-month incubations. All samples were found to contain PAHs and ranges from 132 to 4,370 ng total PAH g-1 dry weight of oyster tissue. Sediments ranged from 1.3 to 26.1 ng total PAH g-1 weight of sediment. The concentration of PAH in sediments were relatively constant at the Orange Beach and Fort Morgan sites and varied considerable at the Grand Bay site. Fifteen individual PAHs were identified by co-elution with known standards and mass spectral analysis (Naphthalene, Acenaphthene, Acenaphthylene, Flourene, Phenanthrene, Anthracene, Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, Benzo(b)flouranthene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, Dibenz(a,h)anthracene, Benzo(g,h,i)perylene) and two additional PAHs were identified from their relative retention times and mass spectral analysis (Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Benzo(j)fluorathene). There was a general correlation between sediment and oyster PAH concentration.