Examination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Urban Stormwater System and ...

104 Pages·2013·1.83 MB·English

Examination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an
Urban Stormwater System and Bioaccumulation in Odonata

Lucas Heintzman, B.S.
A Thesis
In
Biology
Submitted to the Graduate Faculty
of Texas Tech University in
Partial Fulfillment of
the Requirements for
the Degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE
Approved
Dr. Nancy E. McIntyre
Chair of Committee

Dr. Deborah Carr

Dr. Kerry Griffis-Kyle

Dominick Casadonte
Interim Dean of the Graduate School

August, 2013
Copyright 2013, Lucas Heintzman
Texas Tech University, Lucas Heintzman, August 2013
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to begin by acknowledging first and foremost by Master’s advisor
Dr. Nancy McIntyre. Her assistance in this manuscript, study design, administrative
guidance, financial assistance, and especially patience has been exemplary. Without her
encouragement I would not be preparing this thesis. The remaining members of the
McIntyre lab, Steve Collins and Scott Starr, also deserve recognition for their assistance
in sample collection, and for their assistance in navigating the various
logistical/administrative requirements of the graduate school.
Secondly, I would like to extend my deepest respect toward my remaining
committee members, Dr. Deborah Carr and Dr. Kerry Griffis-Kyle, for their assistance in
manuscript development, study design, and in augmenting my theoretical framework.
Dr. Todd Anderson at The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) has
been a steadfast supporter of my research and has spent numerous hours hosting, training,
and interpreting the complex analytical chemistry results used in my research. Dr. Kevin
Mulligan and Chris Van Nice also deserve special recognition for their assistance in
developing the ArcGIS protocols I used.
A special consideration ought to be extended to the front office personnel and
maintenance staff of the Department of Biological Sciences and TIEHH. Lanita Ladd
and Charlie Barnes were great assets in this research endeavor (the Toyota and I resolved
our differences ). TTUAB and the financial support from TTABSS helped to develop
my research directions for this study. Many important individuals and organizations
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Texas Tech University, Lucas Heintzman, August 2013
deserve praise, and if I have neglected to include your name here, rest assured I shall
rectify those errors in the future.
Last, but in no regards least, I would be remiss if I did not extend a much
deserved acknowledgement to Neha Kumari. Without her encouragement, great cooking
skills, and patience this investigation and thesis would likely not have come to fruition.

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Texas Tech University, Lucas Heintzman, August 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................... ii
ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... vii
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................. viii
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................. ix
I. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................1
Justification ......................................................................................................11
Study Parameters and Hypotheses ...................................................................11
II. METHODS ......................................................................................................13
Specific Methodologies by Category ...............................................................11
Water Sample Collection and Solid Phase Extraction ...............................13
Liquid Chromatography Analysis ..............................................................15
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analysis ..................................16
Odonata Tissue Sample Collection ............................................................17
Impervious Surface Assessment ................................................................18
Statistical Analysis .....................................................................................20
III. RESULTS .......................................................................................................22
Results: Water Samples ...................................................................................22
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Texas Tech University, Lucas Heintzman, August 2013
Results: Odonata Tissue Samples ....................................................................24
Results: Comparison of PAHs between Water and Tissue Samples ...............26
Results: Impervious Surface Assessment, Inflows, and Gradient Position .....28
Results: Other Effects, Separated by Analytical Type .....................................33
IV. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS ...................................................35
LITERATURE CITED .......................................................................................41
APPENDICES
A. CALIBRATION TABLES FOR LC .............................................................52
B. CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENCE.............................................................55
C. WATER CHEMISTRY PARAMETERS AND ASSOCIATED SINGLE-
FACTOR ANOVAS .............................................................................................56
D. WATER SAMPLE PAH AREA RESPONSE VALUES (LC) ...................61
E. WATER SAMPLE PAH AREA RESPONSE VALUES (GC/MS) ............62
F. ODONATA TISSUE AREA RESPONSE VALUES (LC) ..........................63
G. ODONATA TISSUE AREA RESPONSE VALUES (GC/MS) ..................64
H. SINGLE-FACTOR ANOVAS FOR COMPARISON OF PAHS
BETWEEN WATER AND TISSUE SAMPLES (LC) .....................................65
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Texas Tech University, Lucas Heintzman, August 2013
I. SINGLE-FACTOR ANOVAS FOR COMPARISON OF PAHS
BETWEEN WATER AND TISSUE SAMPLES (GC/MS) ..............................67
J. TOTAL DETECTIONS SUMMARY
AND ASSOCIATED SINGLE-FACTOR ANOVAS ........................................69
K. SINGLE-FACTOR ANOVAS FOR COMPARISON OF
SCDP AND CONTROL SITES WITHIN
300 M BUFFERS AND HYDROLOGIC POSITION ......................................73
L. MANOVA AND RMANOVA RESULTS SUMMARY ................................76
M. TUKEY’S HSD (HONESTLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE)
TEST COMPARISONS ......................................................................................82

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Texas Tech University, Lucas Heintzman, August 2013
ABSTRACT
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic organic pollutants produced
from combustion processes. Associated with urban runoff they have been detected
worldwide in urban wetlands. PAH contaminations in wetlands are known to be
influenced by hydrology and environmental factors. Because PAHs and their associated
metabolites are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic, they pose significant risks to
wetland-dependent organisms. Provided meager scientific data on PAHs in playa
wetlands, I investigated the occurrence of 16 PAHs within playa surface water samples
and tissues of amphibious organisms (Odonata: dragonflies and damselflies, a flagship
group of predatory wetland insects) from seven urban playas along a runoff gradient in
Lubbock, Texas.
PAH detections from surface water samples were highly variable across sites and
dates, with naphthalene and pyrene occurring most often in water samples. Adult
Odonata PAH detections were also variable but significantly different from
corresponding surface water samples (suggesting bioaccumulation rather than passive
chemical exposure), with naphthalene and fluoranthene occurring most often. The
number of specific PAH compound detections was significantly associated with percent
impervious surface within 300 m of a playa, but not with gradient position or number of
inflows. Therefore, results indicate that for the urban playas of Lubbock, land-use factors
are more important in determining PAH contamination than hydrologic factors.
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Texas Tech University, Lucas Heintzman, August 2013
LIST OF TABLES
1 Estimated PAH Concentration (Water Samples LC) .................................23
2 Odonata Tissue Collection .........................................................................24
3 Estimated PAH Concentration (Odonata Tissue Samples LC)..................25
4 Impervious Surface Summary (within 300 m buffer) ................................31
5 Regression Analysis Results ......................................................................32

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Texas Tech University, Lucas Heintzman, August 2013
LIST OF FIGURES
1 Visual Representation of Investigated PAHs. ..............................................2
2 Distribution of Playa Basins in Texas ..........................................................6
3 Distribution of Urban Playas in Lubbock, Texas .........................................8
4 Schematic Map of SCDP Subterranean Linkages .....................................10
5 Classification Confidence of Impervious Surface at Study Playas ............28
6 Impervious Surfaces and Constructed Inflows at Study Playas .................30

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