Quantification and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in core sediments from Sundarban...

The distribution and potential sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment cores (<63 microm particle size) of the Sundarban mangrove wetland, northeastern coast of Bay of Bengal (India), were investigated by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs ( summation operator(16)PAHs) ranged from 132 to 2938 ng/g, with a mean of 634 ng/g, and the sum of 10 out of 16 priority PAHs ( summation operator(10)PAH) varied from 123 to 2441 ng/g, with a mean of 555 ng/g, and the 5 carcinogenic PAHs (benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene) accounted for 68-73% of the priority PAHs. Maximum concentrations of the sediment core were obtained at subsoil depth of 12-16 cm. The prevalence of four to six aromatic ring PAHs and cross-plots of specific isomer ratios such as phenanthrene/anthracene, fluoranthene/pyrene, and methylphenanthrenes/phenanthrene suggested the predominance of wood and coal combustion sources, the atmospheric deposition, and surface runoff to be the major transport pathways. A good correlation existed between the benzo[a]pyrene level and the total PAH concentrations, making this compound a potential molecular marker for PAH pollution. Total TEQ (S) (carc) values calculated for samples varied from 6.95 ng/g TEQ (S) (carc) to 119 ng/g TEQ (S) (carc) , with an average of 59 ng/g dry weight TEQ (S) (carc) . The baseline data can be used for regular monitoring, considering the industrial and agricultural growth around this coastal environment.