ABSTRACT
Walker et al [1] studied profiles of hydrocarbons in sediment according to depth in sediment cores collected at Baltimore harbour in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. Gas liquid chromatography was used to detect hydrocarbons present at different depths in the sediment, while low resolution mass spectrometry was employed to measure concentrations of paraffins, cycloparaffins, aromatic and polynuclear aromatics. Their data show that the concentrations of total and saturated hydrocarbons decreased with increased depth, and it was noted that identification and quantification of hydrocarbons in oil-contaminated sediments is required if the fate of these compounds in dredge spills is to be determined.
