scholarly journals Review of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Sediment Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Benthic Life

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy A McGrath ◽  
Namita Joshua ◽  
Amanda S Bess ◽  
Thomas F Parkerton
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. L. Lockhart ◽  
C. G. Muir ◽  
P. Wilkinson ◽  
A. Yarechewski ◽  
B.N. Billeck

Abstract Some aspects of the quality of fish and sediment samples with respect to contamination with organochlorine compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and several metals are addressed. Fish were obtained from three reservoirs: Kyiv, Kremenchuk and Kakhovka. Sediment cores were obtained from Kremenchuk, Zaporizhzhia and Kakhovka. Levels of contaminants in fish showed differences among species within a reservoir and among reservoirs within a species. The major organochlorine compounds found in the fish were DDT and PCBs with levels in the low ng/g range. Fish PCB levels generally tended to be higher in the Upper Kakhovka reservoir than in the other reservoirs and the congener profile suggested a local source of PCBs to that reservoir. Bream from the Kyiv reservoir had higher levels of mercury than bream from the other reservoirs even though they were of relatively small size. Lead-210 profiles in sediment cores suggested that all three cores sampled only recent time; two of the cores extended deeply enough to capture the large increase in cesium-137 from Chernobyl in 1986, and the third consisted only of material deposited after that event. Inputs of cesium-137 were high and there was no indication of decreases since 1986. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments were also high, especially in the Zaporizhzhia reservoir where concentrations consistently exceeded Canadian sediment quality guidelines by sever-alfold. Concentrations were lower in the Kakhovka reservoir but still in excess of guidelines, and they were lower yet at the most upstream core from Kremenchuk reservoir. A similar pattern was evident with several metals in sediments. Concentrations in the core from Zaporizhzhia exceeded those from Kakhovka which in turn exceeded those from Kremenchuk. Concentrations in both Zaporizhzhia and Kakhovka generally exceeded Canadian sediment quality guidelines. The general picture that emerges is one of a system of widespread chemical contamination not only with Chernobyl byproducts but also with hydrocarbons, metals and organochlorines, with significant sources downstream from the Kremenchuk site.


Author(s):  
Paolo Montuori ◽  
Elvira De Rosa ◽  
Fabiana Di Duca ◽  
Donatella Paola Provvisiero ◽  
Pasquale Sarnacchiaro ◽  
...  

This study reports the data on the contamination caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) drained from the Volturno River. The seasonal and spatial distribution of PAHs in water and sediment samples was assessed. The 16 PAHs were determined in the water dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments. A multidimensional statistical approach was used to identify three pollution composite indicators. Contaminant discharges of PAHs into the sea were calculated in about 3158.2 kg/year. Total concentrations of PAHs varied in ranges 434.8 to 872.1 ng g−1 and 256.7 to 1686.3 ng L−1 in sediment samples and in water (DP + SPM), respectively. The statistical results indicated that the PAHs mainly had a pyrolytic source. Considering the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the water environmental quality standards (USEPA EQS), and risk quotient (RQ), the Volturno River would be considered as an area in which the environmental integrity is possibly at risk.


2013 ◽  
Vol 328 ◽  
pp. 323-327
Author(s):  
Cheng Di Dong ◽  
Chih Feng Chen ◽  
Yi Kuo Chang ◽  
Chiu Wen Chen

The surface samples were collected from the Love River mouth, Taiwan and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total PAHs concentrations varied from 785 to 1,893 ng/g dw. The spatial distribution of PAHs reveals that the PAHs concentration is relatively high in the river mouth region, and gradually diminishes toward the harbor region. Diagnostic ratios showed that the possible source of PAHs in the Love River mouth could be petroleum combustion. The toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQcarc) of PAHs varied from 117 to 272 ng TEQ/g dw. Higher total TEQcarc values were found in the river mouth region. As compared with the US Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs), the observed levels of PAHs at Love River mouth were lower than the effects range low (ERL), and would probably not exert adverse biological effects.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham A. Colby

AbstractPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority pollutants that are produced through incomplete combustion of modern biomass and fossil fuels. In aquatic systems PAHs are absorbed by suspended matter and ultimately deposited into sediments. PAH fluxes to sediments have been declining in North American since the mid 1960s. Improving technology and regulations were expected to contribute to declining PAH concentrations; however, in some urban sediment there are recent increases in deposition. Trends in concentrations of pyrogenic PAHs and perylene were determined in the sediment of two lakes, in central Ontario. Intact piston cores that preserve the depositional history were collected from each site, sliced into 1 cm intervals and analyzed using gas-chromatography/ mass-spectrometry. Pyrogenic PAH trends at each site displayed unique characteristics suggesting differing extents of influence from various atmospheric sources. The upper core profile (above 8.5 cm) in the more remote site had decreasing PAH concentrations consistent with observations from Siskitwit Lake. The more urban site (above 3.5 cm) had increasing PAH concentrations suggesting modern anthropogenic activities have a larger influence in this region. Perylene fluxes at both sites do not correlate with the observed PAH fluxes, increasing in concentration with depth, thus indicating separate sources for this PAH, likely diagenesis within the sediments. Both sites had PAH concentrations exceeding the interim sediment quality guidelines in the uppermost sediment deposits. This study provides insights into the differential atmospheric deposition in Ontario and may aid in establishing strategies for reducing or mitigating the production of PAHs.


2012 ◽  
Vol 178-181 ◽  
pp. 992-995
Author(s):  
Chih Feng Chen ◽  
Chiu Wen Chen ◽  
Cheng Di Dong

Surface samples were collected from the Jen-Gen River mouth, Taiwan and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total PAHs concentrations varied from 283 to 1,277 ng/g, with a mean concentration of 671 ng/g. The spatial distribution of PAHs reveals that the PAHs concentration is relatively high in the river mouth region, and gradually diminishes toward the harbor region. Diagnostic ratios showed that the possible source of PAHs in the Jen-Gen River mouth could be petroleum combustion. The toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQcarc) of PAHs varied from 43 to 169 ng TEQ/g. Higher total TEQcarc values were found in the river mouth region. As compared with the US Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs), the observed levels of PAHs at Jen-Gen River mouth were lower than the effects range low (ERL), and would probably not exert adverse biological effects.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Dhananjayan ◽  
S. Muralidharan ◽  
Vinny R. Peter

This study investigated the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediment samples collected along the harbour line, Mumbai, India. The ∑PAHs quantified in water and sediment samples were ranged from 8.66 ng/L to 46.74 ng/L and from 2608 ng/g to 134134 ng/g dry wt., respectively. Significantly high concentration of ∑PAHs was found in water samples of Sewri and sediment samples of Mahul (P<0.05). PAH concentrations detected in the present study were several folds higher than the existing sediment quality criteria suggested by various statutory agencies. The PAH composition patterns in water and sediments suggest the dominance of high molecular weight compounds and indicate important pyrolytic and petrogenic sources. The occurrence of PAHs in the marine environment has attracted the attention of the scientific community as these compounds are frequently detected in seawater and sediments at increasing levels and can have adverse health effects on marine organisms and humans. PAH concentrations detected at Sewri-Mahul site were sufficiently high to pose a risk to marine organisms if they are exposed continuously to this concentration. Hence, continuous monitoring of the ecosystem is highly warranted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Deny Yogaswara ◽  
Ita Wulandari ◽  
Khozanah Khozanah ◽  
Edward Edward ◽  
Dede Falahudin

ABSTRACTBintan Island is the small island in the Riau Archipelago which borders Singapore and Malaysia. Its water is crossed by international shipping lines. Therefore, water quality in this area is potentially polluted by marine activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the concentration, spatial distribution, and assessment of ecological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from selected coastal water of Bintan. Surface sediments in this study were extracted by using the ultrasonic system and determined with GCMS. The data were visualized with ArGIS software for spatial distribution mapping, applied ratio diagnostic methods for the source of PAH contamination, and assess their ecological risk based on sediment quality guidelines. The results showed PAHs concentrations ranged from below the method detection limit (<DL) to 13.492 ng.g−1(dry weight) with the highest concentration of PAHs were detected at TJU 1 station as much as 13.492 ng.g-1. As many as seven types of PAHs were identified in Bintan water, they were Naphthalene (two rings), Fluorene and Anthracene (three rings); fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benzo (a) Pyrene and Chrysene (five rings). Based on diagnostic ratios, the sources of PAHs in this coastal area were mainly from pyrogenic origins. Ecological risk assessment has shown that the average value of ∑10 PAH in Bintan waters (5.855 ng.g-1) is lower than the corresponding ERL, ERM, TEL, and PEL value indicating that the adverse biological effects of PAHs are generally low.Keywords: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Distribution, Pollution, Bintan WatersABSTRAKPulau Bintan merupakan pulau kecil di Kepulauan Riau yang berbatasan langsung dengan negara Singapura dan Malaysia serta perairannya dilintasi oleh jalur pelayaran internasional sehingga potensi pencemaran dari aktivitas di laut sangat tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengukur konsentrasi, distribusi spasial, sumber asal pencemaran dan analisis resiko lingkungan senyawa PAH dalam sedimen permukaan di perairan pesisir Pulau Bintan. Sedimen permukaan diekstraksi dengan sistem ultrasonik dan dianalisa akhir dengan GCMS. Data senyawa PAH diolah dengan software ArGIS untuk membuat peta distribusi spasial, dianalisa dengan metode diagnosa rasio untuk mengetahui sumber pencemarnya dan dibandingkan dengan nilai baku mutu sedimen untuk mengkaji resiko ekologinya. Hasil analisis di setiap stasiun sampling di Muara Pengudang dan Tanjung Uban menunjukkan konsentrasi Total PAH (TPAH) berkisar antara < limit deteksi alat (1 ngg-1) sampai 13,492 ng.g-1 berat kering dengan konsentrasi tertinggi terdeteksi di stasiun TJU 1 yaitu sebesar 13,492 ng.g-1.  Sebanyak tujuh jenis senyawa PAH teridentifikasi di perairan Bintan ini diantaranya Naphthalene, (dua cincin benzene), Fluorene dan Anthracene (tiga cincin benzene); Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benzo (a) Pyrene, dan Chrysene (empat cincin benzene). Berdasarkan analisa diagnosa rasio, sumber pencemaran PAH di perairan pesisir Bintan adalah berasal dari kombinasi antara sumber pirogenik. Analisis resiko lingkungan menunjukkan nilai rata-rata ∑10 PAH di perairan Bintan (5,855 ngg-1) masih rendah dibandingkan nilai ERL, ERM, TEL dan PEL, hal tersebut mengindikasikan bahwa efek biologis senyawa PAH secara umum rendah.Kata kunci: Polisiklik Aromatik Hidrokarbon (PAH), Sebaran, Pencemaran, Perairan Bintan


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