Table 6-2. Concentrations of Naphthalenes/Phenanthrenes in 

 Windsor Cove Sediments (jug/gram dry wt. sediment). 



MARSH 

 Oct. May 



Component Depth Cone. Depth Cone. 



Naphthalene 0-6 em 9.2 0-5 em 0.63 



14-1 8 em 0.024 15-20 cm 0.011 



C^-Naphthalenes 0-6 em 370 0-5 cm 



41 



14-1 8 em 1.1 15-20 cm 0.33 



The data in Table 6-2 demonstrate the usefulness of the technique of 

 quantitative GC-MF analysis in biogeochemical studies of oil spills. The data 

 also demonstrates that fuel oil aromatic hydrocarbons have survived for at least 

 seven months in the marsh sediments in concentrations well above background. 

 Thus, for this time period, the West Falmouth spill was not unique. Further 

 investigation will determine if the parallel between the fate of the petroleum 

 compounds from the two oil spills will continue. 



Historical Record of Fossil Fuel Hydrocarbons 

 in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts 



Our gas chromatographic measurements of hydrocarbons in surface 

 sediments at several locations in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts indicated the 

 presence of an unresolved complex mixture of hydrocarbons with a wide 

 molecular weight range, indicating that these hydrocarbons miglit be from 

 chronic oil pollution (8). However, there were several other sources such as 

 natural diagenetic processes and weathering of ancient sediments to be 

 considered (8). In order to assist in evaluating the source of these 



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