Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine organisms from Mischief Reef in the South China sea: Implications for sources and human exposure

Abstract

Abstract Mischief Reef, the largest atoll of Nansha Islands, China, is an important sea passage for heavy tonnage ships and an excellent base for marine fisheries. No pollution survey of this reef has been previously conducted. The results indicated that total concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the investigated 44 marine organisms (37 fishes and 7 invertebrates) ranged from 12.8 to 81.3 ng/g wet weight (ww). A significant positive correlation was observed between lipid content and the PAH concentrations based on ww only in the fish inside the reef. The low molecular weight PAHs accounted for the largest proportion (88%). The principal component analysis suggested four main sources of PAHs: combustion of fossil fuels (37%), oil spills and diesel-powered cargo ship emissions (14%), traffic-related exhaust (13%) and coal combustion (11%). Seafood from Mischief Reef is safe for human consumption.