This information may be useful to researchers for intercomparisons of more recent data as well as policy makers for remediation and resource management of urban areas in the U.S. Sample locations in the Gulf of Maine contaminated sediment database. The database includes core and surface samples throughout the region. Areas of regional interest are outlined and include Boston Harbor, Great Bay Estuary, Casco Bay, and Penobscot Bay. Yellow indicates concentrations which are above values in soil, but below the Effects Range-Low. Blue points are low concentrations below normal soil values.
Green points indicate points below natural background for lead in Massachusetts Bay.
The concentrations of metal and organic contaminants are being used to create maps of contaminant distributions in the region and investigate transport processes. Interpretation of the compiled data has shown that sample density is not uniform in the Gulf of Maine. Samples are concentrated in urban, coastal locations and targeted study areas, such as U.S. EPA designated National Estuaries. Concentrations are delineated using the same system previously described. Note the prevalence of low concentrations further from the metropolitan source.