Baseline occurrence, distribution and sources of PAHs, TPH, and OCPs in surface sediments in Gorgan Bay, Iran. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zafarani, Ghasem Ghorbanzadeh; Karbalaei, Samaneh; Golshani, Reza; Pustokhina, Inna; Walker, Tony R.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 175(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) -- Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) -- Gorgan Bay -- Ecological risk assessment; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113346
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Baseline polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface sediments were measured in Gorgan Bay, Iran. Total PAHs, TPH, and OCPs concentrations ranged between 13.70 and 23.68 ng g −1, 2.97 to 11.51 μg g −1 dry weight, and below detection to 1.41 ng g −1, respectively. Benzo [k] fluoranthene and anthracene had the highest (BkF; 19.77 ± 0.08 ng g −1 ), and lowest (Ant; 4.38 ± 1.72 ng g −1 ) individual PAH concentrations, respectively. The most abundant OCPs were β-Endosulfan, followed by methoxychlor and endrin. PAH isomeric ratios in sediments revealed that contamination originated from mixed sources, with a strong indication of pyrogenic sources. Ecological risk assessments based on sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) suggested that individual PAHs and OCPs posed low ecological risks in Gorgan Bay. Highlights: Baseline PAHs, TPHs, and OCPs in surface sediments were measured in Gorgan Bay, Iran. Highest and lowest concentrations of individual PAHs were BkF, and Ant, respectively. β-Endosulfan, methoxychlor, and endrin were the most abundant OCPs in sediments. PAH ratios showed that these compounds originated mainly from pyrogenic sources.