B[a]P Contamination of Sediment in a Blackstone Valley Streambed

Dugan, Penny Elizabeth

Student Work

B[a]P Contamination of Sediment in a Blackstone Valley Streambed

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Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a PAH, has been identified as a potential carcinogen. It enters the environment as a result of industrial emissions, is deposited in the watershed, and is biomagnified in animals living in contaminated waterways. B[a]P was extracted from sediment and crayfish tissues from a Blackstone Valley streambed, and GC was used to quantify contamination levels. Comparisons of B[a]P concentrations at different points suggested deposition patterns of B[a]P from a point source in a stream, and showed the most relevant test points for future research. Gut analysis of crayfishes showed that those living in the stream eat sediment. Levels of B[a]P detected in muscle tissue suggest that bioaccumulation occurs in crayfish, and supports the use of crayfish as a bioindicator.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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