Abstract A history of sewage induced effects in Jamaica Bay was reconstructed from two sediment cores using natural carbon and nitrogen isotope abundances.
Similar analysis suggests that little C degradation occurs.
It remains unclear why the more recent core is significantly isotopically enriched with respect to C isotopes. A two end-member mixing model may be inappropriate for determining sediment source origins in this scenario due to the varied biogeochemical processes that contribute to the sediment signal and alter source isotopic compositions. Together, the data have serious implications for understanding effects of combined sewer overflow events and sewage loading in estuarine environments. Go to Science Research Projects . Go to Learning Objectives of Research Project.