The extent and significance of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in Crater Lake, Oregon

In order to evaluate hydrocarbon inputs to Crater Lake from anthropogenic and natural sources, samples of water, aerosol, surface slick and sediment were collected and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for determination of their aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations and compositions. Results show that hydrocarbons originate from both natural (terrestrial plant waxes and algae) and anthropogenic (petroleum use) sources and are entering the lake through direct input and atmospheric transport. The concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons range from low to undetectable. The distributions and abundances of n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and unresolved complex mixture (UCM) from petroleum are similar for all surface slick sampling sites. The estimated levels of PAH in surface slicks range from 7–9 ng/m2 which are low. Transport of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons from the lake surface has resulted in their presence in some sediments, particularly near the boat operations mooring (total petroleum HC = 1440 µg/kg, dry wt. compared to naturally derived n-alkanes, 240 µg/kg, dry wt.). The presence of biomarkers such as the tricyclic terpanes, hopanes and steranes in shallow sediments further confirms petroleum input from boat traffic. In the deep lake sediments, petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations were very low (16 µg/kg, dry wt.). Very low concentrations of PAH were detected in shallow sediments (17–40 µg/kg at 5 m depth near the boat operations) and deep sediments (3–15 µg/kg at 580 m depth). The individual PAH concentrations in sediments (µg/kg or ppb range) are at least three orders of magnitude less than reported threshold effects levels (mg/kg or ppm range, test amphipod Hyalella azteca). Therefore, no adverse effects are expected to occur in benthic biota exposed to these sediments. Boating activities are leaving a detectable level of petroleum in surface waters and lake sediments but these concentrations are very low.