Occurrence and Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Tisza River and its Romanian Tributaries

Abstract

The aim of this work is to assess the occurrence of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Tisza River and its main Romanian tributaries (Viseu River and Iza River) and to establish the origin (pyrogenic/petrogenic) of pollution sources. Fifteen PAHs were investigated in surface water and sediment samples collected from three selected sampling point. The target compounds were isolated from the matrices by solid phase extraction for water samples and by ultrasound-assisted extraction for the sediment samples, respectively. The quantification of the target compounds was performed by HPLC coupled with a fluorescence detector. PAH diagnostic ratios, as the abundance ratio of 2–3 ring hydrocarbons to 4–6 ring hydrocarbons (LMW/HMW), ANT/(ANT + PHE), FLT/(FLT + PYR), B[a]A/(B[a]A + CHR), and IND/(IND+ B[g,h,i]P) were used as a tool for identification and assessment of the pollution emission sources. The results of the study showed that in the studied area, the total concentrations of PAHs detected in water samples ranged from 1.22 to 260.26 ng L−1, while those in sediment samples varied from 4.94 to 10.62 μg kg−1. Regarding the PAH pattern, mixed sources of pollution (pyrogenic and petrogenic) occur in both water and sediment samples. Thus, leaks of petroleum products and biomass, coal, and petroleum combustion are the main sources of pollution identified into the studied area.