This study provides a detailed survey of the presence, concentration levels, and spatial distribution of organic and inorganic contaminants in sediment and tissue samples collected within Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. The results of these analyses revealed elevated concentrations of arsenic, and lead and chromium in Everglades National Park (ENP) sediments exceeding Potential Effects Levels (PEL) in 9, 5 and 5% of sediment samples and concentrations of nickel exceeding Threshold Effects Levels (TEL) in 5% of samples. In Biscayne National Park, arsenic exceeded TEL in 4400 of sediment samples. Organic analyses of ENP sediments revealed elevated concentrations of DDT and its metabolites in 5% of the samples. Fish tissue analysis indicate that Endosulfan may pose a hazard in aquatic environments due to its high frequency of detection, Endosulfan sulfate in 85% and β-Endosulfan in 5% of samples.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fiu.edu/oai:digitalcommons.fiu.edu:etd-4573 |
| Date | 20 July 2004 |
| Creators | Fernandez, Adolfo M. |
| Publisher | FIU Digital Commons |
| Source Sets | Florida International University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
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