Abstract
A detailed study was conducted on the spatial distribution, ecological hazards, identification of sources and evaluation of health risks posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Ramsar coastal wetland near an urbanized area in Kollam district, Kerala, employing diverse environmental indices and methodologies. Furthermore, positive matrix factorization (PMF) and statistical methods were employed to assess the relationships among PAHs and identify their potential source. PAHs quantified in sediments showed moderate levels of pollution, with compounds ordered as Naf > Phe > Chr > BaP > Py > BbF > Fl > BkF > IcP > Bper > BaA > Flu > DbA > An > Acy > Ace, primarily originating from biomass combustion and traffic emissions (34.2 %), burning of coal (44.8 %) and petrogenic sources (21 %), adding to the overall sum of 16 PAHs. Ecological risk assessment (ERA) methods indicate that the study area poses low to moderate ecological risks. Although certain PAHs are carcinogenic, there is a limited information about their cancer risk via marine sediments, despite coastal regions being vital for world food supply. The investigation revealed that nearly all sediment samples contaminated by PAHs exceeds the USEPA's proposed ingestion route threshold (10⁻⁶), showing substantial cancer risks. The non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) evaluation suggests that ingesting sediments from the wetland can lead to non-cancer risks for both adults and children. These conclusions are vital for developing strong environmental management practices for coastal zone of Kollam, where many livelihoods rely on these areas, and they aid efforts to move away from using petroleum-derived fossil fuels to eco-friendly fuel options like CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).
Published Version
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