Heavy metal contamination from petroleum production platforms in the central Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Sediment from 20 platforms and four control sites off Louisiana were examined for heavy metal concentrations. From Conclusions: “There are concentration gradients of Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in surficial sediments that decrease with distance from some platforms. These gradients are not explained by the variability in sediment characeristics are believed to emanate from the platform structures, old drilling fluids and cuttings, produced discharge waters, metallic debris on the bottom, pipelines, platform related activities, or recreational boating. Sediment input from the Mississippi River may “mask” the trace metal concentrations in sediments near the platform. Trace metal concentrations in muscle tissue of four commercially important species (P. aztecus, M. undulatus, A. probatocephalus and C. faber) do not in general show significantly higher metal concentrations than similar organisms from other areas of the Gulf of Mexico. However, concentrations of Cu and Fe were higher in A. probatocephalus and C. faber and of Ni in A. probatocephalus.”