Abstract
Distribution and seasonal variation of sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in the drinking water of Tehran, the capital of Iran. Detected single and total PAHs concentrations were in the range of 2.01-38.96 and 32.45-733.10 ng/L, respectively, which were quite high compared to the values recorded in other areas of the world. The average occurrence of PAHs with high molecular weights was 79.55%; for example, chrysene occurred in 60.6% of the samples, with a maximum concentration of 438.96 ng/L. In addition, mean carcinogen to non-carcinogen PAHs ratio was 63.84. Although the concentration of benzo[a]pyrene, as an indicator of water pollution to PAHs, was lower than the guideline value proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) as well as that of Iranian National Drinking Water Standards for all of the samples, the obtained results indicated that carcinogen PAHs present in the drinking water of Tehran can cause threats to human health.
Highlights
Drinking water is one of the oldest public health issues and is associated with a multitude of health-related concerns
Results were not in agreement with those reported by Kabzinski et al (2002), who found that the main components of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) mixture in the drinking water were Nap, Acy, Fl, and Ant [26]
The first integrated investigation of PAHs in the drinking water of Tehran revealed that some individual HMW PAHs, such as Chy, benzo [k]fluoranthene (BkF), and IcdP, are present in levels higher than that of European Union’s drinking water standard, whereas, the permissible level for PAHs in drinking water by World Health Organization (WHO) and Iranian National Drinking Water Standards is only set for BaP
Summary
Drinking water is one of the oldest public health issues and is associated with a multitude of health-related concerns. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of xenobiotic chemicals which are made up of carbon and hydrogen They represent a group of contaminants with high melting and boiling points, low vapor pressure, and very low water solubility [6,7]. PAHs can reach water bodies mainly through dry and wet deposition, road runoff, industrial wastewater, leaching from creosote-impregnated wood, petroleum spills, and fossil fuel combustion [16,17,18,19]. They are generally teratogenic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic and may induce lung, bladder, as well as skin cancer. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the distribution and seasonal variation of sixteen PAHs, as priority pollutants recognized by U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in the drinking water of Tehran, the capital of Iran
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