2024-25 - Environmental Pollution Journal Article - Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem - CIMP216

File Identifier: {615C45E9-5C5B-411C-844F-7799097ADD98}

Metadata Language: en

Responsible Party:

Organisation Name: NWT CIMP

Role: Point Of Contact

Contact Info:

E-Mail Address: Deb_mcintyremoffat@gov.nt.ca

Metadata Date: 2024-05-07

Metadata Standard Name: ISO 19139/19115 Metadata for Datasets

Metadata Standard Version: 2003

Abstract: 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 (iii) 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 PAC levels in the basin and in other northern systems.

Language: en

Citation:

Contact Info:

Title: 2024-25 - Environmental Pollution Journal Article - Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem - CIMP216

Date:

Date: 2024-04-01

Date Type: Publication Date

Topic Category: Environment and Conservation

Keyword Collection:

Keyword: Water contaminants

Keyword: Oil wells

Keyword: Northwest Territories

Keyword: Lotic ecosystems

Keyword: Snow

Keyword: Fire

Spatial Extent:

West Bounding Longitude: -137

East Bounding Longitude: -109.416

North Bounding Latitude: 69.0684

South Bounding Latitude: 60

Transfer Options:

URL: https://nwtdiscoveryportal.enr.gov.nt.ca/geoportaldocuments/2024-25%20-%20Deliverable%20-%20CIMP216(Gurney-ECCC)%20-%20Environmental%20Pollution%20Journal%20Article%20-%20Polycyclic%20aromatic%20compounds%20in%20a%20northern%20freshwater%20ecosystem%20-%20April%202024%20.pdf

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Distributor Contact:

Organisation Name: Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (CIMP)

Role: Point Of Contact