Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon Monitoring in Estuaries Utilizing: Oysters, Brackish Water Clams and Sediments

The monitoring of contamination from polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in estuarine animals is complicated by the necessity of utilizing different species as one progresses upstream along the salinity gradient. In the Chesapeake Bay, most tributary sub-estuaries contain two bivalve species, the oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and the brackish water clam, Rangia cuneata, which frequently have overlapping distributions. This paper describes the use of these species and sediments as monitors for PAH contamination in the James, York and Rappahannock rivers. Seasonal, species and source related differences are discussed.