Contaminated Sediment

My dissertation research characterized the sequestration, desorption, bioavailability, and human health exposure risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in naturally weathered whole and fractionated sediments from the New York/New Jersey Harbor estuary. Key findings include the impact of the type, as well as the quantity, of organic carbon in sediments, and the important role sediment physical structure and dissolved organic carbon in pore water plays on rate-limiting desorption, bioavailability, and toxicity.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of hydrocarbon compounds comprised of fused aromatic rings. Several PAHs are known or suspected carcinogens, and most have non-cancer adverse health effects. PAHs are produced from combustion processes and exist in high concentrations in commercial products including coal tar and creosote. They accumulate in sediments and are ubiquitous environmental contaminants of industrial waterways.

Related Publications

Leslie M. Shor, Karl J. Rockne, L. Y. Young, Gary L. Taghon, and David S. Kosson. 2004. “Combined effects of contaminant desorption and toxicity on risk from PAH contaminated sediments.” Risk Analysis: An International Journal. 24(5) 1109-1120.
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Leslie M. Shor, Karl J. Rockne, L. Y. Young, Gary L. Taghon, and David S. Kosson. 2003. “Desorption kinetics for field-aged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from sediments.” Environmental Science & Technology. 37(8) 1535-1544.
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Leslie M. Shor, Wenhsin Liang, Karl J. Rockne, Gary L. Taghon, L. Y. Young, and David S. Kosson. 2003. “Intra-aggregate mass transport-limited bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to Mycobacterium strain PC01.” Environmental Science & Technology. 37(8) 1545-1552.
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Karl J. Rockne, Leslie M. Shor, L. Y. Young, Gary L. Taghon and David S. Kosson. 2002. “Distributed sequestration and release of PAHs in weathered sediment: The role of sediment structure and organic carbon properties.” Environmental Science & Technology. 36(12) 2636-2644.
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