Co-occurrence and potential ecological risk of parent and oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments of the Taiwan Strait

The distribution and toxicity levels of 16 EPA priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments of Asaluyeh shore, Iran were investigated. The total concentrations of the PAHs in surface sediments ranged from 1,054 to 17,448 ng/g dry weights with a mean concentration of 8,067 ng/g. The spatial distribution of PAHs showed that PAH levels are much higher in the industrial areas in comparison with urban areas. Based on diagnostic ratios, pyrogenic activities were dominant sources of PAHs pollution in sediments comparing petroleum sources. The toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQ Carc) of PAHs ranged from 172 to 2,235 ng TEQ/g with mean value of 997.9. Toxicity levels were evaluated using sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and toxic equivalent factors. Samples were collected from industrial and urban stations in Asaluyeh shores. According to SQGs, ΣPAHs concentrations in sediments of urban areas were below the ERL (effects range low), but the industrial samples had ΣPAHs concentrations between ERL and ERM (effects range median). Furthermore, ΣHPAHs (heavy PAHs) and some individual PAHs in some industrial stations exceeded ERM, indicating adverse ecological risk effects frequently occur. Findings demonstrate that the surface sediment from Asaluyeh shore is highly to very highly contaminated with PAHs.

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Assessment of ecological risk and identification sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at coastal sediments: A case study in Bushehr Province, Iran

Environmental Health Engineering and Management ◽

10.34172/ehem.2021.29 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 257-266

Author(s):

Ghafour Nourian ◽

Neamat Jaafarzadeh Haghighi Fard ◽

Abdul Rahim Pazira ◽

Esmaeil Kohgardi

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Sediment Quality ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

Coastal Sediments ◽

Sediment Samples ◽

Ecotoxicological Effects ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are stable and highly toxic environmental pollutants, which are produced mainly through combustion processes. The present study aimed to identify and determine PAHs compounds and their ecotoxicological effects in surface sediments of 20 stations in Bushehr province (Assaluyeh, Kangan, Khark, Emam Hasan, and Bushehr areas). Methods: All sediment samples (0-5 cm) were collected from 20 sites of Persian Gulf costs (Bushehr province, Iran). The concentration of PAHs was determined by HPLC. Then, in order to identify the sources of PAHs, ƩLPAHs/ƩHPAHs, IP/ (IP+BP), PH/AN, and AN/(PH+AN) ratios were obtained. Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and sediment quality criteria (SQC) were used to measure the PAHs ecotoxicological effects in sediments. Results: Based on PAHs isomeric ratios, the contaminants of sediments originated from pyrogenic resources. ƩPAHs values (ng/g dw) in sediment samples ranged from ND to 49180. The toxic equivalent concentration (TEQ car) of PAHs raged from ND-7999 ngTEQ/g. Based on SQGs and SQC, the concentrations of ƩPAHs compounds in 10% and 6% of the sampling stations exceeded effects range median (ERM) and frequent effect level (FEL), respectively, indicating negative ecological risk effects. Conclusion: Sampling stations sediments must be routinely checked for PAHs because may lead to a negative effect on the marine ecosystem, organisms, and humans.

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