Estimation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Pollution in Mediterranean Sea from Volturno River, Southern Italy: Distribution, Risk Assessment and Loads.

Paolo Montuori,Donatella Paola Provvisiero,Antonio Nardone,Pasquale Sarnacchiaro,Fabiana Di Duca,Elvira De Rosa,Maria Triassi

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041383

Abstract

This study reports the data on the contamination caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) drained from the Volturno River. The seasonal and spatial distribution of PAHs in water and sediment samples was assessed. The 16 PAHs were determined in the water dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments. A multidimensional statistical approach was used to identify three pollution composite indicators. Contaminant discharges of PAHs into the sea were calculated in about 3158.2 kg/year. Total concentrations of PAHs varied in ranges 434.8 to 872.1 ng g−1 and 256.7 to 1686.3 ng L−1 in sediment samples and in water (DP + SPM), respectively. The statistical results indicated that the PAHs mainly had a pyrolytic source. Considering the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the water environmental quality standards (USEPA EQS), and risk quotient (RQ), the Volturno River would be considered as an area in which the environmental integrity is possibly at risk.

Highlights

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants commonly distributed in the ecosystem [1,2].Their diffusion in the environment caused much concern due to the toxic and carcinogenic properties of these compounds for human health [3,4,5]
The amount of ΣPAHs in the dissolved phase (DP) samples (64.3–1429.1 ng L−1 ) was much higher than those found in other rivers of the world (Table 2) as in the Xijiang River [43], in the Yellow River [44], in the Songhua River, China [45], in the Wyre River, England [46], in the Elbe and Weser Rivers, Germany [47], and in the Tiber River, Italy [34,48].the PAHs were present in smaller quantities than those found in the Daliao River [49], in the Yellow River [50], in the Songhua River [51], in the Daliao River estuary, China [52], in the Gomti River, India [53], in the Cauca River, Colombia [8], in the Almendares River, Cuba [54], and in the Buffalo River estuary, South Africa [55]
Low molecular weight (LMW)-PAHs were abundantly present in the water samples, while in sediment samples, the predominant class were high molecular weight PAHs

Summary

Introduction

PAHs are environmental pollutants commonly distributed in the ecosystem [1,2]. Their diffusion in the environment caused much concern due to the toxic and carcinogenic properties of these compounds for human health [3,4,5]. The PAHs release into the aquatic system is caused by both natural and human sources. Natural sources of PAHs include volcanic emissions, forest fires, natural oil, and certain biological (biogenic) processes. Anthropogenic sources of PAHs in aquatic environments are divided into pyrogenic and petrogenic groups. Pyrogenic sources include incomplete combustion, domestic and industrial wastewater discharges, oil spills and waste incinerators, etc. All of the aforementioned sources (i.e., pyrolytic, petrogenic and diagenetic) bring about distinctive PAHs patterns

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion