Organization: University of California, Berkeley 



Bodega Marine Laboratory 

 Investigator: R. W. Risebrough 

 Project title: Formulation of Mass Balance Equations for 



Polychlorinate Biphenyls in Marine Ecosystems 

 Grant No.: GX-32885 



Baseline studies were carried out to determine the extent 

 of chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination of marine ecosys- 

 tems, principally in the Pacific Ocean. TTiese new studies ex- 

 tended and complemented those carried out previously by the 

 investigator on chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination of Cali- 

 fornia coastal waters. 



Birds have been used extensively in the investigator's base- 

 line studies. The principal reason has been the knowledge of 

 chlorinated hydrocarbon levels among the California coastal 

 species occupying various ecological niches. Samples of the same 

 species from other areas of the Pacific or from closely related 

 species occupying similar or identical ecological niches have 

 permitted comparison of pollutant levels. 



These investigations were broadened to include several 

 studies of heavy metal distributions. These were needed to 

 determine whether ecological damage might be caused in part 

 by one or a combination of heavy metals. 



Organization: Harvard University, 



Bermuda Biological Station 

 Investigator: J. N. Butler and B. F. Morris 

 Project title: Transfer of Petroleum Residues in Sargassum 



Communities and the Waters of the Sargasso Sea 

 Grant No.: GX-32883 



The most visible and easily studied oceanic pollutants are 

 the solid pelagic tar lumps found at the ocean surface. The fate 

 of this material through physical disintegration, chemical degra- 

 dation, and biological metabolism and uptake is poorly known 

 and may have substantial long-term effects on the oceanic 

 ecosystem. Work to date has included: characterization of 

 composition of tar lumps by gas chromatography; publication 

 of a summary report on known information regarding pelagic 

 tar, and an identification manual of fauna of the Sargassum 

 community; separation of over 300 Sargassum communities 

 into taxa; elucidation of the basic food web within the Sargassum 

 community; and extraction and analysis of hydrocarbons from 

 Sargassum alga and some associated organisms. 



Organization: San Jose State University 



Investigator: J. H. Martin 



Project title: Cadmium Transport to the Open Pacific Ocean 



Via the California Current System 

 Grant No.: IDO7501303 



This 2-year study, begun late in 1974, is projected to be a 

 multidisciplinary study of the California Current, using cadmium 

 as an example pollutant. The California Current flows southward 

 along the west coast of continental United States and, after 

 passing Baja California, turns west and joins the North Equa- 

 torial Current. Pollutants from rivers, outfalls, and atmospheric 

 fallout can become entrained in these waters and transported 

 to the open Pacific Ocean. Cadmium was chosen for its well- 

 known toxicity and because input levels off Southern California 

 are high. The investigator has consistently found elevated levels 

 of cadmium in plankton off Baja California. 



Organization: University of Rhode Island 



Investigator: R. A. Duce 



Project title: Atmospheric Pollutant Transfer and Deposition 



on the Sea Surface 

 Grant No.: IDO72-06425 



The principal investigator's and co-investigator's stated 

 objectives and scope of research are to: 



1 ) evaluate the importance of atmospheric transport of sucli 

 pollutants as heavy metals, petroleum products, and chlori- 

 nated hydrocarbons to the ocean surface; 



2) characterize the surface microlayer of the ocean with re- 

 spect to chemical concentration and speciation of naturally oc- 

 curring and pollutant organic and inorganic substances; 



3 ) characterize the top 1 meter of the ocean with respect to 

 certain chemical concentrations and physical features, such as 

 density stability; and 



4) study — by laboratory investigations — chemical and physical 

 mechanisms of pollutant concentration, stabilization, and dis- 

 persion in the surface layer of the ocean. 



The past year's work led to the following developments in 

 instrumentation, analytical methods, and results of analyses. 



1) Developed and put to use automatic atmospheric sampling 

 systems. 



2) Developed techniques to collect sea surface microlayer 

 samples. These are being tested. 



3 ) Devised six techniques or laboratory methods to separate 

 and identify atmospheric pollutants. 



4) Obtained and analyzed data that provide tentative conclu- 

 sions on "gaseous" atmospheric hydrocarbon values, surface 

 enrichment of chlorinated hydrocarbons, and enrichment and 

 distribution of trace metals in the North Atlantic atmosphere 

 and sea surface microlayer. 



Field observations during the past year were accomplished 

 by the University of Rhode Island's RV Trident — cruises 145, 

 147, and 152 — and from the Bermuda tower facility. 



The following summary identifies items submitted to 

 NOAA Environmental Data Service's National Oceanographic 

 Data Center. 

 NODC Accession No.: 75 0528 



1 ) Table of trace metals in 68 samples of surface microlayer 

 particulate matter (Fe, Al, Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd). 



2 ) Table of trace metals in 99 samples of atmospheric partic- 

 ulate matter (Fe, Al, Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd). 



3) Table of alkali and alkaline earth trace metals in 99 sam- 

 ples of atmospheric particulate matter (Na, Mg, Ca, K). 



4) Table of trace metals in 180 samples of atmospheric par- 

 ticulate matter collected from the Bermuda tower (Fe, Al, Cu, 

 Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd). 



5) Table of alkali and alkaline earth trace metals in 180 sam- 

 ples of atmospheric particulate matter collected from the Ber- 

 muda tower (Na, Mg, Ca, K). 



6) Table of mercury determinations in four samples of surface 

 sea water. 



