Contaminant assessment of surface sediments from Tanapag Lagoon, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Denton GR, Bearden BG, Concepcion LP, Wood HR, Morrison RJ. 2006. Contaminant assessment of surface sediments from Tanapag Lagoon, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 52:703-710
Sediments were the focus of this investigation because they act as major sinks for many of the more persistent and potentially toxic organic and inorganic chemicals introduced into the aquatic environment. Sediment samples were collected in June 1999 from 32 nearshore stations along transect lines running approximately parallel to the coast, between Flores Point and Muchot Point in Tanapag Lagoon, Saipan. Overall this study has shown that Tanapag Lagoon is relatively clean with only 2% of the results indicating significant contamination. The areas where problems were identified were sites close to the Puerto Rico dump, the boat marina, the new docks, and the port. A major surprise in this study was the apparent improvement in sediment quality around the Puerto Rico dump compared to findings from the 1980s.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Denton, G.; Bearden, B.; Concepcion, Lucrina; Wood, H.; Morrison, R.
- Units
- AMME
- Keywords
- Contaminants/Hazardous Materials, Metals, Pollutants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Puerto Rico dump, Saipan Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Sediments, Tanapag Lagoon