Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface water from the coastal area of Bangladesh

Abstract

Sixteen USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface water from the coastal areas of Bangladesh were analyzed by GC-MS/MS. Samples were collected in winter and summer, 2015. The total concentration of PAHs (sigma PAHs) showed a slight variation in the two seasons, which varied from 855.4 to 9653.7 ng/L in winter and 679.4 to 12639.3 ng/L in summer, respectively. The levels of sigma PAHs were comparable to or relatively higher than other coastal areas around the world. The areas with recent urbanization and industrialization (Chittagong, Cox\'s Bazar and Sundarbans) were more contaminated with PAHs than the unindustrialized area (Meghna Estuary). Generally, 2–3-ring PAHs were the dominant compounds. Molecular ratios suggested that PAHs in the study areas could be originated from both pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. The risk assessment revealed the extremely high ecological risk of PAHs, indicating an intense attention should be paid to PAHs pollution in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.