NOAA's National Status and Trends Program collected surface sediment samples from almost 300 coastal and estuary sites across the United States starting in 1984. The program aimed to define the geographical distribution of contaminant concentrations and document biological responses, selecting sites away from major contamination sources. Target analytes included metals, PAHs, pesticides, and PCBs, with all data reported on a dry weight basis.
Use Cases
- Analyze geographical distribution of metal contaminants based on sampling at almost 300 coastal sites.
- Model historical trends of PAH and PCB contamination in sediments based on data collected since 1984.
- Assess baseline contaminant levels in estuaries based on sites selected away from major pollution sources.
- Compare sediment contaminant profiles across different coastal regions based on the multi-site sampling strategy.
Strengths
- Samples collected from almost 300 coastal and estuary sites, providing broad geographical coverage.
- Data collection spans multiple years, starting in 1984, allowing for temporal trend analysis.
- Target analytes include a defined list of metals, PAHs, pesticides, and PCBs.
- Sampling methodology involved three grabs or cores per station, with composite samples for analysis.
Limitations
- Last updated 1989-01-01 23:59:59.999000; freshness should be verified.
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
Provenance
- Source
- NOAA National Status and Trends Program
- Collection Method
- Surface sediment samples collected, with three grabs or cores per station composited for analysis of metals, PAHs, pesticides, and PCBs.
- Time Range
- Since 1984
- Geography
- Almost 300 coastal and estuary sites throughout the United States, including the Columbia River Basin.