100 sediment sampling locations in northern Puget Sound were analyzed for organic chemicals, PCBs, PAHs, toxic metals, and toxicity. The survey was conducted by the Washington State Department of Ecology and NOAA on June 1, 1999 to assess spatial patterns of chemical contamination and biological effects. Data indicated less than 2% of the surveyed area was severely contaminated for most substances.
Use Cases
- Map spatial patterns of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations across 100 sampling stations to identify contamination hotspots like Everett Harbor.
- Correlate polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels with results from four kinds of toxicity tests to model chemical-biological effect relationships.
- Analyze benthic infaunal structure indices against toxic metal concentrations to evidence population alterations near urban centers.
- Compare contaminant severity (organic chemicals, toxic metals) across sub-regions like Bellingham Bay to quantify spatial extent of significant contamination.
Strengths
- Samples from 100 spatially distributed locations provide broad geographic coverage within the defined study region.
- Integrates four kinds of toxicity test data with chemical analyses for a multi-faceted assessment of sediment quality.
- Data collection was part of a structured three-year cooperative effort between state and federal agencies (Washington State Department of Ecology and NOAA).
Limitations
- Sample size is limited to 100 locations, which may constrain fine-grained spatial analysis.
- Temporal coverage is a single snapshot from June 1999, lacking time-series data for trend analysis.
- The survey excluded the San Juan Islands, creating a geographic gap in the northern Puget Sound region.
Provenance
- Source
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Accession 0000054.
- Collection Method
- Chemical and toxicity analysis of surficial sediments collected from sampled locations.
- Time Range
- Sampling date: June 1, 1999.
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Northern Puget Sound, from Port Gardner Bay north to the US/Canada border, excluding the San Juan Islands.