Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors.
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) - a large group of organic chemicals naturally present in petroleum deposits (i.e., petrogenic) or released into the environment by incomplete combustion of organic materials (i.e., pyrogenic) - represent a potential risk to the health of aquatic ecosystems. In h...
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ftpubmed:38614424 2024-05-12T08:06:48+00:00 Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors. Stalwick, Jordyn A Eccles, Kristin M Somers, Gila Thomas, Philippe J Gurney, Kirsty 2024 Apr 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123962 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38614424 eng eng Elsevier Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123962 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38614424 Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Environ Pollut ISSN:1873-6424 Northwest Territories fire lotic ecosystems oil wells snow water contaminants Journal Article 2024 ftpubmed https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123962 2024-04-14T16:01:00Z Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) - a large group of organic chemicals naturally present in petroleum deposits (i.e., petrogenic) or released into the environment by incomplete combustion of organic materials (i.e., pyrogenic) - represent a potential risk to the health of aquatic ecosystems. In high latitude freshwater ecosystems, concentrations of PACs may be increasing, yet there are limited studies in such systems to assess change and to understand threats. Using 10 years of contemporary data from passive samplers deployed across five regions (n = 43 sites) in the Mackenzie River Basin, we (i) describe baseline levels of PACs, (ii) assess spatiotemporal patterns, and (ii) evaluate the extent to which environmental factors (fire, snowmelt, and proximity to oil infrastructure) influence concentrations in this system. Measured concentrations were low, relative to those in more southern systems, with mixtures primarily being dominated by non-alkylated, low molecular weight compounds. Concentrations were spatially consistent, except for two sites near Norman Wells (an area of active oil extraction) with increased levels. Similarly, observed annual variation was minimal, with 2014 having generally higher levels of PACs. We did not detect effects of fire, snowmelt, or oil infrastructure on concentrations. Taken together, our findings suggest that PACs in the Mackenzie River are currently at low levels and are primarily petrogenic in origin. They further indicate that ongoing monitoring and testing of environmental drivers (especially at finer spatial scales) are needed to better predict how ecosystem change will influence PACs levels in the Basin and in other northern systems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Mackenzie river Northwest Territories PubMed Central (PMC) Northwest Territories Mackenzie River Norman Wells ENVELOPE(-126.833,-126.833,65.282,65.282) Environmental Pollution 123962 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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PubMed Central (PMC) |
op_collection_id |
ftpubmed |
language |
English |
topic |
Northwest Territories fire lotic ecosystems oil wells snow water contaminants |
spellingShingle |
Northwest Territories fire lotic ecosystems oil wells snow water contaminants Stalwick, Jordyn A Eccles, Kristin M Somers, Gila Thomas, Philippe J Gurney, Kirsty Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors. |
topic_facet |
Northwest Territories fire lotic ecosystems oil wells snow water contaminants |
description |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) - a large group of organic chemicals naturally present in petroleum deposits (i.e., petrogenic) or released into the environment by incomplete combustion of organic materials (i.e., pyrogenic) - represent a potential risk to the health of aquatic ecosystems. In high latitude freshwater ecosystems, concentrations of PACs may be increasing, yet there are limited studies in such systems to assess change and to understand threats. Using 10 years of contemporary data from passive samplers deployed across five regions (n = 43 sites) in the Mackenzie River Basin, we (i) describe baseline levels of PACs, (ii) assess spatiotemporal patterns, and (ii) evaluate the extent to which environmental factors (fire, snowmelt, and proximity to oil infrastructure) influence concentrations in this system. Measured concentrations were low, relative to those in more southern systems, with mixtures primarily being dominated by non-alkylated, low molecular weight compounds. Concentrations were spatially consistent, except for two sites near Norman Wells (an area of active oil extraction) with increased levels. Similarly, observed annual variation was minimal, with 2014 having generally higher levels of PACs. We did not detect effects of fire, snowmelt, or oil infrastructure on concentrations. Taken together, our findings suggest that PACs in the Mackenzie River are currently at low levels and are primarily petrogenic in origin. They further indicate that ongoing monitoring and testing of environmental drivers (especially at finer spatial scales) are needed to better predict how ecosystem change will influence PACs levels in the Basin and in other northern systems. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Stalwick, Jordyn A Eccles, Kristin M Somers, Gila Thomas, Philippe J Gurney, Kirsty |
author_facet |
Stalwick, Jordyn A Eccles, Kristin M Somers, Gila Thomas, Philippe J Gurney, Kirsty |
author_sort |
Stalwick, Jordyn A |
title |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors. |
title_short |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors. |
title_full |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors. |
title_fullStr |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors. |
title_sort |
polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors. |
publisher |
Elsevier Science |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123962 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38614424 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-126.833,-126.833,65.282,65.282) |
geographic |
Northwest Territories Mackenzie River Norman Wells |
geographic_facet |
Northwest Territories Mackenzie River Norman Wells |
genre |
Mackenzie river Northwest Territories |
genre_facet |
Mackenzie river Northwest Territories |
op_source |
Environ Pollut ISSN:1873-6424 |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123962 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38614424 |
op_rights |
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123962 |
container_title |
Environmental Pollution |
container_start_page |
123962 |
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1798849340430614528 |