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Distribution, source apportionment and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in intertidal sediment of Asaluyeh, Persian Gulf

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Abstract

Surface sediment samples were collected from intertidal zone of Asaluyeh, Persian Gulf, to investigate distribution, sources and health risk of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total PAH concentrations ranged from 1.8 to 81.2 μg kg−1 dry weight, which can be categorized as low level of pollution. Qualitative and quantitative assessments showed that PAHs originated from both petrogenic and pyrogenic sources with slight pyrogenic dominance. Source apportionment using principal component analysis indicated that the main sources of PAHs were fossil fuel combustion (33.59%), traffic-related PAHs (32.77%), biomass and coal combustion (18.54%) and petrogenic PAHs (9.31%). According to the results from the sediment quality guidelines, mean effects range-median quotient (M-ERM-Q) and benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalents (BaPeq), low negative ecological risks related to PAH compounds would occur in the intertidal zone of Asaluyeh. The total benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) toxic equivalent quotient (TEQcarc) for carcinogenic compounds ranged from 0.01 to 7 μg kg−1-BaPeq, indicating low carcinogenic risk. The human health risk assessment of PAH compounds via ingestion and dermal pathways suggests low and moderate potential risk to human health, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

The research was funded by Iran’s National Elites Foundation (INEF) through Shiraz University (Grant No. 11/70381). The authors extend their gratitude to Shiraz University Medical Geology Research Center for logistic support.

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  1. Medical Geology Research Center, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Mehrzad Keshavarzifard, Farid Moore, Behnam Keshavarzi & Reza Sharifi

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  1. Mehrzad Keshavarzifard
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  2. Farid Moore
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  3. Behnam Keshavarzi
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  4. Reza Sharifi
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Correspondence to Mehrzad Keshavarzifard.

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Keshavarzifard, M., Moore, F., Keshavarzi, B. et al. Distribution, source apportionment and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in intertidal sediment of Asaluyeh, Persian Gulf. Environ Geochem Health 40, 721–735 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-017-0019-2

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