Figure 10. — Sampling localities for trace petroleum constituents in the Gulf of Mexico. 



Organization: Texas A&M University 



Investigator: B. J. Presley 



Project Title: Sublethal Effects of Heavy Metals on Organisms 



From the Gulf of Mexico 

 Grant No.: GX-37347 



This project is a study of the Mississippi River delta 

 area. Both laboratory and model studies use sediments and 

 organisms collected during the field study. Its purpose is to 

 better understand the ultimate fate of potentially toxic 

 organic and inorganic materials that are introduced into the 

 marine environment. 



Analytical work will be concentrated on selected species 

 of benthic organisms and the sediment in which they are 

 found. Some analyses also will be made of water and suspended 

 sediments. Organic compounds to be determined are poly- 

 chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other major halogenated 

 hydrocarbons, including brominated biphenyls and terphenyls. 

 Analyses of metals will be restricted, for the most part, to 

 mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, arsenic, selenium, and chromium. 



By analyses of organisms and bottom sediments from the 

 river where it is influenced by a salt water wedge, and of 

 samples from progressively greater distances off the mouth 

 of the river, it can be determined to what extent additions from 

 the river are affecting the distribution of potentially toxic sub- 

 stances in the Gulf of Mexico. These data can be correlated 

 with the distribution and abundance of benthic marine 

 organisms. 



Organization: Texas A&M University 

 Investigator: W. M. Sackett and J. W. Anderson 

 Project Title: Fate and Spatial and Temporal Distribution of 

 Petroleum-Derived Organic Compounds in the Ocean and 

 Their Sublethal Effects on Marine Organisms 

 Grant No.: GX-37344 



The spatial and temporal distribution of dissolved light 

 hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, and possibly other components 

 will be determined in the vicinity of several ports and several 

 groups of offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico — 



