TY - JOUR
T1 - Distribution and Ecosystem Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Core Sediments of Sundarban Mangrove Wetland, India
AU - Sarkar, Santosh Kumar
AU - Binelli, Andrea
AU - Chatterjee, Mousumi
AU - deb Bhattacharya, Bhaskar
AU - Parolini, Marco
AU - Riva, Consuelo
AU - Jonathan, M. P.
N1 - Funding Information:
1Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India 2Department of Biology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy 3Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Barrio la Laguna Ticomán C. P., Del. Gustavo A. Madero, México, D. F., Mexico The origin and distribution of 19 priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in core sediments (<63 µm) from the Sundarban mangrove wetland, northeastern part of Bay of Bengal, India, were investigated by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Sedimentary organic carbon and textural properties∑ were also analyzed in order to assess the role of geochemistry on PAH distribution. 19PAHs concentration in sediments showed wide variations from 9.4–4222.8 ng/g dry weight, with an overall increase of the high molecular PAHs in the deeper depth profiles. Fluoranthene, chrysene, and pyrene were the most abundant hydrocarbons in sediments and it can be explained by active inputs of soil materials due to frequent strong rainfalls in this tropical climatic zone. A rather exceptional∑ prevalence of high molecular weight PAHs was substantiated: nearly 80% of 19PAHs include fluoranthene (18–20%), chrysene (14–16%), and pyrene (10–11%). Carcinogenic compounds were present in moderately Received 24 June 2011; accepted 14 October 2011. The research work was financially supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India (Sanction No. UGC/199/UPE/07) under the scheme “University with Potential for Excellence” (Modern Biology Group). Address correspondence to Santosh Kumar Sarkar, Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta 700019, India. E-mail: cusarkar@gmail.com
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - The origin and distribution of 19 priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in core sediments (<63 μm) from the Sundarban mangrove wetland, northeastern part of Bay of Bengal, India, were investigated by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Sedimentary organic carbon and textural properties were also analyzed in order to assess the role of geochemistry on PAH distribution. ∑ 19PAHs concentration in sediments showed wide variations from 9.4-4222.8 ng/g dry weight, with an overall increase of the high molecular PAHs in the deeper depth profiles. Fluoranthene, chrysene, and pyrene were the most abundant hydrocarbons in sediments and it can be explained by active inputs of soil materials due to frequent strong rainfalls in this tropical climatic zone. A rather exceptional prevalence of high molecular weight PAHs was substantiated: nearly 80% of ∑ 19PAHs include fluoranthene (18-20%), chrysene (14-16%), and pyrene (10-11%). Carcinogenic compounds were present in moderately high (DBA, BkF, BbF) or negligible and low concentrations (BaP, InP) in a majority of cases. The PAH diagnostic ratios indicated that the PAHs in sediment cores were of pyrolytic origin, and that atmospheric deposition and land runoff may serve as the important pathways for PAHs input to the sediments. The total PAH levels were expressed as the benzo (a) pyrene toxicity equivalents (TEQ carc) making this compound a potential marker for PAH pollution. The baseline data can be used for regular ecological monitoring, considering the industrial and agricultural growth around this important estuarine environment. The results indicated that the PAHs in sediments of Sundarban wetland resulted in low to moderate ecosystem risk.
AB - The origin and distribution of 19 priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in core sediments (<63 μm) from the Sundarban mangrove wetland, northeastern part of Bay of Bengal, India, were investigated by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Sedimentary organic carbon and textural properties were also analyzed in order to assess the role of geochemistry on PAH distribution. ∑ 19PAHs concentration in sediments showed wide variations from 9.4-4222.8 ng/g dry weight, with an overall increase of the high molecular PAHs in the deeper depth profiles. Fluoranthene, chrysene, and pyrene were the most abundant hydrocarbons in sediments and it can be explained by active inputs of soil materials due to frequent strong rainfalls in this tropical climatic zone. A rather exceptional prevalence of high molecular weight PAHs was substantiated: nearly 80% of ∑ 19PAHs include fluoranthene (18-20%), chrysene (14-16%), and pyrene (10-11%). Carcinogenic compounds were present in moderately high (DBA, BkF, BbF) or negligible and low concentrations (BaP, InP) in a majority of cases. The PAH diagnostic ratios indicated that the PAHs in sediment cores were of pyrolytic origin, and that atmospheric deposition and land runoff may serve as the important pathways for PAHs input to the sediments. The total PAH levels were expressed as the benzo (a) pyrene toxicity equivalents (TEQ carc) making this compound a potential marker for PAH pollution. The baseline data can be used for regular ecological monitoring, considering the industrial and agricultural growth around this important estuarine environment. The results indicated that the PAHs in sediments of Sundarban wetland resulted in low to moderate ecosystem risk.
KW - Indian Sundarban mangrove wetland
KW - PAHs
KW - Sediments
KW - TEQ
KW - ecosystem risk
KW - sediment quality guidelines
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858430360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10406638.2011.633592
DO - 10.1080/10406638.2011.633592
M3 - Artículo
SN - 1040-6638
VL - 32
SP - 1
EP - 26
JO - Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds
JF - Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds
IS - 1
ER -