Input and Fate of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Entering the Providence River and Upper Narragansett Bay from Wastewater Effluents

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

11-1-1977

Abstract

A one-year background survey of the petroleum hydrocarbons discharged to the Providence River by a municipal wastewater secondary treatment plant indicated that these plants may be significant contributors to oil pollution in estuarine and coastal waters. The hydrocarbons were discharged primarily in association with the suspended solids. Analysis of suspended material and sediments in the river and upper Narragansett Bay indicated that approximately half of the suspended hydrocarbons were rapidly sedimented out in the river, and the remainder were transported out of the river and throughout the bay. The petroleum products were persistent to 40 cm in some sedimentary cores with the subsequent emergence of biologically produced hydrocarbons indicating the extent to which oil pollution was present in these sediments. © 1977, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Environmental Science and Technology

Volume

11

Issue

12

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