Prediction of the Transport and Fate of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Masan Bay, South Korea

Abstract

A numerical simulation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Masan Bay, Korea, was con- ducted using a program written in STELLA to estimate the transport of organic chemicals in the coastal environment. A sensitivity analysis of dissolved PAHs and PAHs in suspended particulate matter (SPM) indi- cated that PAH levels were significantly influenced by the settling velocity, the adsorption and desorption rates. PAHs in phytoplankton were sensitive to all coefficient. The mass balance model indicated that the standing stocks of PAHs in water, in SPM, and in phytoplankton were 2.01×10 4 g, 1.15×10 3 g, and 7.5×10 -1 g, respectively. Flux were characterized by a high rate of desorption, followed by descending rates of adsorp- tion, settling, and flow to the open sea. The scenario predicted a safe concentration level of dissolved PAHs of less than 30 ng/L if the input loads from rivers, the atmosphere, or both rivers and the atmosphere were reduced to 50%, 50%, or 30% of the current levels, respectively.