Maryland Marine Notes: March-April 2001 Sidebar

Volume 19, Number 2 • March-April 2001

Mapping Contaminants

Researchers from UMCES analyzed sediment samples from locations throughout Baltimore Harbor and used the data to create a map of contaminant locations and concentrations. These data are serving as a baseline for the development of models that aim at predicting the movement of toxic compounds in harbor waters. If successful, the models will help the Maryland Department of Environment better allocate a total maximum daily load (TMDL) of a given pollutant for each potential source, whether direct or diffuse. Below is a summary of major chemical hotspots. The study also found all over the harbor low levels of Chlordane, a powerful biocide once used to control termites and other pests. Though no longer manufactured, it is so persistent in soils that it continues to enter the system in runoff and is the cause of a fish advisory recommending against consumption of catifsh and eels caught in the harbor.

PCBs and PAHs appeared in extremely high concentrations in the Inner Harbor, which may reflect the influence of stormwater runoff carried to the harbor from Jones Falls. PAHs were high on the southern shore of Sparrows Point, on Bear Creek, probably due to heavy industry located there. PCB concentrations were high in Bear Creek and Curtis Creek, compared with most sites along the Patapsco River.
Zinc and chromium were high in Bear Creek, potentially related to the Sparrows Point industrial complex, while concentrations were high at several sites in Northwest Branch, which may be due to stormwater runoff.
Nickel exhibited high values at 70 percent of the sites sampled.
Mercury was highest at the entrance to the Inner Harbor, likely due to stormwater runoff; high concentrations also occurred in Curtis Creek, Bear Creek and Back River.
Copper was highest in Northwest Branch and Curtis Creek.

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