Origin and Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Lagoon Ecosystems of Morocco

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in sediments and bivalves by the Gas chromatography coupled to Mass spectrometer (GC/MS). PAHs concentrations in sediments of My Bousselham and Khnifiss, Atlantics lagoons, (expressed as ∑PAH) ranged from 31 to 82 ng/g of dry weight and from 6.6 to 34 ng/g of dry weight, respectively. Concerning organisms, PAHs levels contamination ranged from 28 to 117 ng/g of dry weight for My Bousselham (Ruditapes Decussates) and from 7 to 18.5 ng/g of dry weight for Khnifiss Lagoon Oyster (Crassostrea gigas). In the Med Lag (Nador), the results obtained showed a range varying from 6 to 126 ng/g of dry weight for sediments and from 24 to 32 ng/g of dry weight for organisms (Mytilus Galoprovincialis). The origin investigation of PAHs in sediment revealed, that the process of combustion was the main source in these Lagoons, while the diagenetic source, related to the high concentrations obtained of Perylene, was established only in both Atlantics Lagoons (Khnifiss and My Bousselham).A prevalence of high molecular weight PAHs was observed, with a considerable predominance of 4-ring PAHs in sediments and organisms of the My bousselham and Nador lagoons, while, no clear predominance was observed in the compartments studied in the Khnifiss lagoon.Correlation study of individual PAH between sediments and organisms, showed that absorption by Clams of low molecular weight PAH group, of which correlation was low, could be done through the water dissolved form, while the absorption of heavier molecular weight PAHs, which showed a high correlation of their distribution between sediments and Clams, could be the absorption from particulate matter.

Lagdo Dam Flood Disaster of 2012: An Assessment of the Concentrations, Sources, and Risks of PAHs in Floodplain Soils of the Lower Reaches of River Niger, Nigeria

“…Diagnostic ratios such as the fluoranthene (Flt)/(Flt + pyrene [Pyr]), anthracene (Ant)/(Ant + phenanthrene [Phen]), benzo(a)anthracene (BaA)/(chrysene [Chry] + BaA), indeno(1,2,3‐cd)pyrene (IndP)/(IndP + benzo(ghi)perylene [BghiP]), and low molecular weight PAHs/high molecular weight PAHs (LMW/HMW) have been most widely used to distinguish the emission sources of PAHs in the literature (Soclo et al, 2000; Kavouras et al, 2001; Yunker et al, 2002; Doong and Lin, 2004; Essumang et al, 2009; Wang et al, 2011; Semlali et al, 2012). For example, pyrogenic and petrogenic sources by ΣLMW/HMW (Soclo et al, 2000), petrogenic and coal–biomass combustion by Flt/(Flt + Pyr) (Yunker et al, 2002), and traffic emission and coal–biomass combustion by BaP/BghiP (Ye et al, 2006).…”

Distribution of total petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hy-drocarbons in Musa Bay sediments (northwest of the Persian Gulf)

“…Individual PAHs were quantified based on the retention time with a reliable PAHs mixed standard (Sigma), and concentrations of each PAH were calibrated based on the standard calibration curve. Finally, the concentrations of the following PAHs were determined: six low molecular weight, two and three rings aromatics, naphthalene (Na), acenaphthylene (Acpy), acenaphthene (Acp), fluorene (Flur), phenanthrene (Phen), anthracene (Ant), and 10 high molecular weight, four, five and six aromatic rings, fluoranthene (Flu), pyrene (Py), benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chr), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DbahA), benzo(g,h,i)perylene (BghiP), indeno (1,2,3-cd)pyrene (IP) [22][23][24]. Initially, each sample was analysed for total petroleum hydrocarbons using UV fluorescence (UVF 2500 fixed excitation wavelength 310 nm; the emission wavelength 360 nm) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS; GC, Agilent, 6890N, MS: Agilent, 5973N), respectively [14,25].…”

“…PAHs of molecular mass 178 and 202 are commonly used to recognize between combustion and petroleum sources of PAHs. According to the PAH isomer ratios [20,21,23,38], the following isomer ratios have been used to identify potential sources of PAHs: Ant/(An + Phe), BaA/(BaA + Chry), Flu/(Flu + Pyr) and IP/(IP + Bghi). The isomer pair ratios of PAHs were calculated.…”

Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a tropical coastal lagoon (Grand-Lahou lagoon, Côte d’Ivoire)

“…Accumulation and persistence of PAHs present a risk to human health and the environment, firstly due to their characteristics and also because of the many sources of exposure. PAHs have toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties (Juhsz and Naidu, 2000;Semlali et al, 2012). However, very few studies have been conducted in African tropical coastal lagoons (Soclo et al, 2000;Nyarko et al, 2011;Semlali et al, 2012).…”