Geoscience Australia's marine survey S282 collected sediment samples from the Arafura Sea to detect evidence for hydrocarbon seepage. The dataset documents a variety of organic contaminants, including fatty acid amides, chemical antioxidants, and UV absorbers, introduced during sampling and handling. Analysis identified specific contamination sources such as plastic sampling bags and sunscreen.
Use Cases
- Identify sources of laboratory contamination based on detected compounds like fatty acid amides and butylated hydroxytoluene.
- Assess the impact of sampling materials on geochemical data based on the analysis of plastic bags and PVC core liners.
- Differentiate between natural petroleum signals and introduced hydrocarbons based on the presence of branched alkanes with quaternary carbon atoms.
- Study the transfer of personal care product compounds into samples based on contamination by octabenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate from sunscreen.
Strengths
- Identifies specific contaminant compounds, including fatty acid amides, butylated hydroxytoluene, Irganox 1076, octabenzone, and octyl methoxycinnamate.
- Traces contamination to concrete sources such as two brands of plastic sampling bags and direct contact with sunscreen.
- Includes detailed examination of hydrocarbon compounds like branched alkanes with quaternary carbon atoms (BAQCs), alkyl cyclohexanes, and alkyl cyclopentanes.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Last updated 2026-06-04 07:10:50.606534; freshness should be verified.
Provenance
- Source
- Geoscience Australia, Australian Ocean Data Network
- Collection Method
- Sediment samples collected during marine survey S282, with subsequent solvent extraction and analysis of potential contamination sources.
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-06-04 07:10:50.606534
- Geography
- Arafura Sea