Resources

Contaminant pathways in the Western Irish Sea

Data set information

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General  
Data holding centreQueens University Belfast, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science
CountryUnited Kingdom  United Kingdom
Time period1996-2003
OngoingNo
Geographical area

Irish Sea

Observations 
Parameters

Sediment resuspension; Zooplankton and zoobenthos morphological parameters; Radioactivity in biota; Fauna abundance per unit area of the bed; Trace metalloid and inorganic selenium concentrations in biota; Sedimentation flux quantification in the water column; Concentration of other hydrocarbons in the water column; Salinity of the water column; Sediment accumulation rate; Concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment samples; Concentration of other organic contaminants in sediment samples; Stable isotopes in sediment; Temperature of the water column; Radioactivity in water bodies; Stable isotopes in water bodies; Zoobenthos dry weight biomass; Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance; Zooplankton and zoobenthos physiological condition parameters; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related wet weight biomass per unit area of the bed; Geological sample radioactivity; Concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biota; Concentration of other organic contaminants in biota; Concentration of other organic contaminants in the water column; Dissolved trace metalloid and inorganic selenium concentrations in water bodies; Particulate trace metalloid and inorganic selenium concentrations in water bodies; Concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water column; Inorganic chemical composition of sediment or rocks

Instruments

Sidescan sonars; discrete water samplers; sediment grabs; unconsolidated sediment corers; inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometers; gas chromatograph mass spectrometers; CTD

Description 
Summary

A 7 year study which investigated the sources, transport and fate of contaminants in the western Irish Sea. This included studies of artificial radionuclides in sediments, trace metals and Pb isotopes in suspended and surficial sediments, hydrocarbons (aromatic and aliphatic) in sediments, and sediment deposition and mixing rates in relation to benthos and fishing pressures.

OriginatorsQueens University Belfast, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science
References

Charlesworth, M., Chenery, S., Mellor, A. and Service, M. (2006) Concentration and isotopic composition of Pb in suspended sediment of the Irish Sea reveals distribution and sources., Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol52(1): 81-88.; Charlesworth, M., Service, M. and Gibson, C.E. (2002) PAH contamination of western Irish Sea sediments., Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44(12): 1421-1434.; Guinan, J., Charlesworth, M., Service, M. and Oliver, T. (2001) Sources and geochemical constraints of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments and mussels of two Northern Irish Sea-loughs., Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42(11): 1073-1081.; Charlesworth, M., Service, M. and Gibson, C.E. (2006) Sellafield derived 137Cs and 241Am in north-western Irish Sea sediments., Science of the Total Environment, Vol 354(1): 83-92.; Charlesworth, M. and Service, M. (2000) An assessment of metal contamination in Northern Irish coastal sediments. Biology and the Environment:, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 100(1): 1-12.; Charlesworth, M. and Service, M, Mitchell, S.H. and Oliver, W.T. (1999) Metals in surficial sediments of the North-west Irish Sea., Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 62(1) 40-47.

Availability 
OrganisationQueens University Belfast, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science
AvailabilityAcademic
ContactMatt Service
Address

Queens University Belfast, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science
Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science Centre, Newforge Lane
Belfast

BT9 5PX
United Kingdom

Telephone02890 255502
Emailmatt.service@dardni.gov.uk
Administration 
Collating centreBritish Oceanographic Data Centre
Local identifier1105001
Global identifier904
Last revised2010-11-22