Abstract
The pollution characteristics of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marine organism species (6 species of fishes and 2 species of crustaceans) from the coastal area of the East China Sea were determined. The concentrations of 16 PAHs in the studied organisms ranged from 29.73 to 87.02 ng/g dw and 2- and 3-ring PAHs were the most abundant compounds in the aquatic organisms. The habitat, diet and predator-prey relationship have posed potential effects on the PAH accumulation in marine organisms. The source identification of PAHs was performed by using the molecular diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the main sources of PAHs in the marine organisms were coal combustion, followed by mixture of gasoline combustion, oil combustion, crude oil spill and vehicle emissions. The incremental lifetime cancer risk of human via ingestion process of marine organisms in this sea area was also estimated and the assessment showed that it posed an acceptable but non-negligible risk to human health.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been widely concerned because of their teratogenicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity
The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in marine organisms from the coastal area of Zhejiang in the East China Sea ranged from 29.73 ng/g dw in Konosirus punctatus to 87.02 ng/g dw in Cynoglossus robutus, with an average concentration of 53.35 ng/g dw
The comparison of PAH concentrations with this respect indicated that the marine organisms from the coastal area of Zhejiang in the East China Sea were moderately contaminated by PAHs
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been widely concerned because of their teratogenicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. With the development of social economy, PAHs from industrial production, agricultural production, transportation and domestic pollution sources are increasing gradually (Hu et al, 2008; Jiao et al, 2012; Yoo et al, 2014; Tong et al, 2019). They can enter marine environment through various ways, such as wastewater discharge, atmospheric deposition, surface runoff and crude oil leakage (Heemken et al, 2000). There are still few studies and information which address the current situation of PAH pollution in the marine organisms of this sea area and its potential risk to human health
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