Brian Burkhardt

Honors in Marine Chemistry

Major: Chemistry Minor: Philosophy

Supervisor: Stephen Skrabal, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Trace Metals in Tidal Creeks Sediments: The Effects of Anthropogenic Inputs in Wilmington, NC

Anthropogenic sources including pressure treated wood, anti-fouling paints, sewage spills, and increased development contribute untreated runoff and other forms of water pollution to tidal creek watersheds. Estuarine sediments have strong metal-binding capacities and often serve as a sink for these contaminates. As a result, trace metal concentrations in coastal sediments are typically orders of magnitude greater than concentrations in overlying waters, potentially exposing deposit-feeding organisms to toxic levels. This study used a 1.0 M HCl leach to measure the bioavailable concentrations of heavy metals in sediment samples from Bradley, Hewletts, and Whiskey creeks that flow into the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway of Southeastern North Carolina. Measurements were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer and normalized with Iron and Aluminum. Concentrations were found to be consistently higher in regions higher up in the creeks where less flushing occurs, suggesting that contaminants are distributed to these regions and settle within the sediment. Potentially toxic levels of Cu and Zn were found in areas of all three tidal creeks.