Abstract
Concentrations of phase-partitioning 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater were investigated in the Tsukumo Bay, Noto Peninsula, Japan, during 2014–2018, to improve the understanding of the environmental behavior of PAHs in the coastal areas of the Japan Sea. Total PAH (particulate plus dissolved) concentrations in surface seawater were in the range 0.24–2.20 ng L−1 (mean 0.89 ng L−1), an order of magnitude lower than the mean values observed in the Japan Sea in 2008 and 2010. Although the PAH contamination levels during 2014–2018 were significantly lower than those in the East China Sea, the levels increased from 2014 to 2017 and were maintained at the higher level during 2017–2018. The main sources of particulate and dissolved PAHs during 2014–2018 were combustion products, of which the former were more influenced by liquid fossil-fuel combustion and the latter by biomass or coal combustion. The increase in particulate PAH concentrations in October–December during 2014–2018 was due to the impact of PAH-rich airmasses transported from the East Asian landmass in the northwesterly winter monsoon winds. The increase in dissolved PAH levels during July–September in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 indicates that the Tsukumo Bay is possibly impacted by the PAH-rich summer continental shelf water transported by the Coastal Branch of the Tsushima Warm Current, which flows into the Japan Sea from the East China Sea.
Highlights
The East Asian marginal seas, namely the East China Sea and Japan Sea, are concerned about the high cumulative human impact of non-point-source organic and inorganic contamination on marine ecosystems [1]
Terrigenous Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) distribute in coastal marine environments via surface runoff, atmospheric particle deposition, and gas partitioning with oil spill, through which they enter marine food chains [5,6,7]
A Σ13 PAHs of 6.8–14 ng L−1 with a mean value of 9.4 ng L−1 was recorded in surface seawater in the Southeastern Japan Sea in 2008, along the Japanese Archipelago [16]. This was higher than that recorded in the northwestern coastal region on the Russian side in 2010 (Σ13 PAHs: 7.4–10.2 ng L−1 with a mean value of 7.9 ng L−1 [17])
Summary
The East Asian marginal seas, namely the East China Sea and Japan Sea, are concerned about the high cumulative human impact of non-point-source organic and inorganic contamination on marine ecosystems [1]. The Coastal Branch of TWC enters the Japan Sea through the East Channel of Tsushima Strait and flows along the coastline of Honshu including the Noto Peninsula [13,14] (Figure 1). The main sources of PAHs in the Japan Sea around Noto Peninsula are the East Asian landmass, East China Sea, and Noto Peninsula (local area), with the more important pathways of PAH transport considered to be atmospheric transport during the northwesterly winter monsoon, marine transport in the Coastal Branch of TWC, and surface runoff. This was higher than that recorded in the northwestern coastal region on the Russian side in 2010 (Σ13 PAHs: 7.4–10.2 ng L−1 with a mean value of 7.9 ng L−1 [17]) This was attributed to the Coastal Branch of TWC originating in the East China Sea, where PAH concentrations are higher. The primary source area and transport pathway of PAHs in the Tsukumo Bay were discussed in this study
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