Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distributions and source apportionment of sediment-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hopanes in rivers and estuaries of Peninsular Malaysia

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, the distributions and sources of sediment-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hopanes in the Malaysian rivers and estuaries were evaluated. The concentrations of 16 USEPA PAHs varied from 225.5 to 293.9 (Perlis River), 195.2 to 481.2 (Kedah River), 791.2 to 1995.4 (Merbok River), 231.2 to 426.7 (Perak River), and 3803.2 to 7442.7 ng g−1 (Klang River) dry weight. PAHs can be classified as moderate in the Perlis, Kedah, and Perak Rivers, moderate to high in the Merbok River, and high to very high in the Klang River. The comparison of PAHs with sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicates that occasionally adverse biological effects may occur from total PAHs, low molecular weight (LMW), and high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs at stations 1, 2, and 3 of the Klang River and from total PAHs at station 2 of the Merbok River. The diagnostic ratios of individual PAHs indicate both petrogenic and pyrogenic origin PAHs with significant dominance of pyrogenic sources in the study areas. The results suggest that Malaysian sediments had hopane ratios (C29/C30) similar to MECO suggesting MECO as a major source of the petroleum hydrocarbons found in the sediments, which is consistent with results reported in previous studies. These findings demonstrate that effective and improved environmental regulations in Malaysia have shifted the source of petroleum hydrocarbons from petrogenic to pyrogenic origin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abas M et al (2004) Organic composition of aerosol particulate matter during a haze episode in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Atmos Environ 38:4223–4241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ankley GT et al (1994) Assessing potential bioavailability of metals in sediments: a proposed approach. Environ Manag 18:331–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araghi PE, Bastami KD, Rahmanpoor S (2014) Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface sediments of Gorgan Bay, Caspian Sea Marine Pollution Bulletin

  • Arias AH, Spetter CV, Freije RH, Marcovecchio JE (2009) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water, mussels (Brachidontes sp., Tagelus sp.) and fish (Odontesthes sp.) from Bahía Blanca Estuary, Argentina. Estuarine. Coastal and Shelf Sci 85:67–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bakhtiari AR, Zakaria MP, Yaziz MI, Lajis MNH, Bi X (2009) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and n-alkanes in suspended particulate matter and sediments from the Langat River, Peninsular Malaysia. Environ Asia 2:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakhtiari AR et al. (2010) Distribution of PAHs and n-alkancs in Klang River surface Sediments, Malaysia. Pertanika J Sci Technol 18

  • Baumard P, Budzinski H, Garrigues P, Sorbe J, Burgeot T, Bellocq J (1998) Concentrations of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in various marine organisms in relation to those in sediments and to trophic level. Mar Pollut Bull 36:951–960

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Budzinski H, Jones I, Bellocq J, Pierard C, Garrigues P (1997) Evaluation of sediment contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Gironde estuary. Mar Chem 58:85–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao B, Nagarajan K, Loh KC (2009) Biodegradation of aromatic compounds: current status and opportunities for biomolecular approaches. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 85:207–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cardellicchio N, Buccolieri A, Giandomenico S, Lopez L, Pizzulli F, Spada L (2007) Organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs) in sediments from the Mar Piccolo in Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy). Mar Pollut Bull 55:451–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandru K, Zakaria MP, Anita S, Shahbazi A, Sakari M, Bahry PS, Mohamed CAR (2008) Characterization of alkanes, hopanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in tar-balls collected from the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Mar Pollut Bull 56:950–962

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen B et al (2004) Distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface waters, sediments and soils of Hangzhou City, China. Water Res 38:3558–3568

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cortazar E, Bartolomé L, Arrasate S, Usobiaga A, Raposo J, Zuloaga O, Etxebarria N (2008) Distribution and bioaccumulation of PAHs in the UNESCO protected natural reserve of Urdaibai, Bay of Biscay. Chemosphere 72:1467–1474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhammapala R, Claiborn C, Simpson C, Jimenez J (2007) Emission factors from wheat and Kentucky bluegrass stubble burning: comparison of field and simulated burn experiments. Atmos Environ 41:1512–1520

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DOSM (2014) Department of Statistics Malaysia, Population and Demography, Report No. 4; Demographic Indicators, Malaysia.

  • DOSM (2014) Department of Statistics Malaysia; Population and Demography, Report No. 1; Intercensal Mid-Year Population Estimates.

  • DOSM (2014) Department of Statistics Malaysia; Population Distribution and Basic Demographic Characteristic Report 2010.

  • Ergut A, Granata S, Jordan J, Carlson J, Howard JB, Richter H, Levendis YA (2006) PAH formation in one-dimensional premixed fuel-rich atmospheric pressure ethylbenzene and ethyl alcohol flames. Combustion and Flame 144:757–772

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garrigues P, Budzinski H, Manitz M, Wise S (1995) Pyrolytic and petrogenic inputs in recent sediments: a definitive signature through phenanthrene and chrysene compound distribution. Polycycl Aromat Compd 7:275–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gustafsson O, Gschwend PM Soot as a strong partition medium for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic systems. In: ACS Symposium Series, 1997. ACS Publications, pp 365-381

  • He X, Pang Y, Song X, Chen B, Feng Z, Ma Y (2014) Distribution, sources and ecological risk assessment of PAHs in surface sediments from Guan River Estuary, China. Mar Pollut Bull 80:52–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Head IM, Jones DM, Röling WF (2006) Marine microorganisms make a meal of oil. Nat Rev Microbiol 4:173–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hites RA, Laflamme RE, Windsor JG, Farrington JW, Deuser WG (1980) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an anoxic sediment core from the Pettaquamscutt River (Rhode Island, USA). Geochim Cosmochim Acta 44:873–878

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JPJ (2013) Road Transport Department Malaysia www.jpj.gov.my/en/utama. 2014

  • Karami A, Christianus A, Ishak Z, Shamsuddin ZH, Masoumian M, Courtenay SC (2012) Use of intestinal Pseudomonas aeruginosa in fish to detect the environmental pollutant benzo [a] pyrene. J Hazard Mat

  • Keshavarzifard M et al (2014) Baseline distributions and sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface sediments from the Prai and Malacca Rivers, Peninsular Malaysia. Mar Pollut Bull 88:366–372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koh C-H, Khim J, Kannan K, Villeneuve D, Senthilkumar K, Giesy J (2004) Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD equivalents (TEQs) in sediment from the Hyeongsan River, Korea. Environ Pollut 132:489–501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Long ER, MacDonald DD, Smith SL, Calder FD (1995) Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuarine sediments. Environ Manag 19:81–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luellen DR, Shea D (2003) Semipermeable membrane devices accumulate conserved ratios of sterane and hopane petroleum biomarkers. Chemosphere 53:705–713

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald DD, Carr RS, Calder FD, Long ER, Ingersoll CG (1996) Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters. Ecotoxicology 5:253–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maliszewska-Kordybach B (1999) Sources, concentrations, fate and effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. Part A: PAHs in air Polish. J Environ Studies 8:131–136

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marchand N, Besombes J, Chevron N, Masclet P, Aymoz G, Jaffrezo J (2004) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmospheres of two French alpine valleys: sources and temporal patterns. Atmos Chem Phys 4

  • Masiol M, Hofer A, Squizzato S, Piazza R, Rampazzo G, Pavoni B (2012) Carcinogenic and mutagenic risk associated to airborne particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: a source apportionment. Atmos Environ

  • Masood N et al. (2014) Distribution of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Surface Sediments from Selected Locations in Kuala Selangor River, Malaysia. In: A.Z. Aris et al. (eds.), From Sources to Solution. pp 351-356. doi:10.1007/978-981-4560-70-2_64, 351-356

  • Medeiros PM, Bícego MC, Castelao RM, Del Rosso C, Fillmann G, Zamboni AJ (2005) Natural and anthropogenic hydrocarbon inputs to sediments of Patos Lagoon Estuary, Brazil. Environ Int 31:77–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meniconi MFG, Gabardo IT, Carneiro MER, Barbanti SM, da Silva GC, Massone CG (2002) Brazilian Oil Spills Chemical Characterization–Case Studies. Environ Forensic 3:303–321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mirsadeghi SA, Zakaria MP, Yap CK, Gobas F (2013) Evaluation of the potential bioaccumulation ability of the blood cockle (Anadara granosa L.) for assessment of environmental matrices of mudflats. Sci Total Environ 454:584–597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell PKK, Mills G, Fisher–NIWA G, Eason-Landcare C (1998) Technical paper No. 37 Toxic

  • Neff JM (1979) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment. Sources, fates and biological effects Applied Science Publishers Ltd London,(15 A NEF):274

  • Nelson D, Sommers L (1996) Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 3: chemical methods’.(Ed. DL Sparks) pp. 961–1010 Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI

  • Notar M, Leskovšek H, Faganeli J (2001) Composition, distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of the Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 42:36–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nozar SLM, Ismail WR, Zakaria MP (2014) Distribution, sources identification, and ecological risk of PAHs and PCBs in coastal surface sediments from the Northern Persian Gulf. Human Ecol Risk Assess: Int J

  • Okuda T, Kumata H, Zakaria MP, Naraoka H, Ishiwatari R, Takada H (2002) Source identification of Malaysian atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons nearby forest fires using molecular and isotopic compositions. Atmos Environ 36:611–618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omar NYM, Abas M, Ketuly KA, Tahir NM (2002) Concentrations of PAHs in atmospheric particles (PM-10) and roadside soil particles collected in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Atmos Environ 36:247–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omar NYM, Mon TC, Rahman NA, Abas M (2006) Distributions and health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric aerosols of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sci Total Environ 369:76–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira WE, Hostettler FD, Luoma SN, van Geen A, Fuller CC, Anima RJ (1999) Sedimentary record of anthropogenic and biogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in San Francisco Bay, California. Mar Chem 64:99–113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prince RC, Elmendorf, D.L., Lute, J.R., Hsu, C.S., Halth, C.E., Senlus, J.D., Dechert, G.J., Douglas, G.S., Butler, E.L. (1994) 17a(H),21a(H)-Hopane as a conservative internal marker for estimating the biodegradation of cruce oil. Environmental Science and Technology:142–145

  • Ravindra K, Sokhi R, Van Grieken R (2008) Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: source attribution, emission factors and regulation. Atmos Environ 42:2895–2921

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Retnam A, Zakaria MP, Juahir H, Aris AZ, Zali MA, Kasim MF (2013) Chemometric techniques in distribution, characterisation and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) in aquaculture sediments in Malaysia. Mar Pollut Bull 69:55–66

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rinawati et al (2012) Distribution, source identification, and historical trends of organic micropollutants in coastal sediment in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia. J Hazard Mater 217:208–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha M et al (2009) Sources of sedimentary PAHs in tropical Asian waters: differentiation between pyrogenic and petrogenic sources by alkyl homolog abundance. Mar Pollut Bull 58:189–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakari M et al (2010) Urban vs. Marine based oil pollution in the strait of Johor, Malaysia: a century record. Soil Sediment Contam 19:644–666

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sicre M, Marty J, Saliot A, Aparicio X, Grimalt J, Albaiges J (1987) Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in different sized aerosols over the Mediterranean Sea: occurrence and origin. Atmos Environ 21:2247–2259

  • Siddall R, Robotham P, Gill R, Pavlov D, Chuiko G (1994) Relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in bottom sediments and liver tissue of bream (Abramis brama) in Rybinsk Reservoir, Russia. Chemosphere 29:1467–1476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stout SA, Uhler AD, Emsbo-Mattingly SD (2004) Comparative evaluation of background anthropogenic hydrocarbons in surficial sediments from nine urban waterways. Environ Sci Technol 38:2987–2994

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takada H, Onda T, Harada M, Ogura N (1991) Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in street dust from the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Sci Total Environ 107:45–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vaezzadeh V et al. (2014) Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Sediment from Muar River and Pulau Merambong, Peninsular Malaysia. In: A.Z. Aris et al. (eds.), From Sources to Solution, . pp 451-455. doi:10.1007/978-981-4560-70-2_81, 451-455

  • Van Metre PC, Mahler BJ, Furlong ET (2000) Urban sprawl leaves its PAH signature. Environ Sci Technol 34:4064–4070

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volkman JK, Revill AT, Murray AP (1974) Applications of biomarkers for identifying sources of natural and pollutant hydrocarbons in aquatic environments. In: ACS Symposium Series, 1997. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, pp 110-132

  • Wakeham SG (1996) Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Black Sea sediments. Mar Chem 53:187–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Stout S (2010) Oil spill environmental forensics: fingerprinting and source identification. Academic Press

  • Wang Z, Fingas M, Sergy G (1994) Study of 22-year-old Arrow oil samples using biomarker compounds by GC/MS. Environ Sci Technol 28:1733–1746

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X-C, Zhang Y-X, Chen RF (2001) Distribution and partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different size fractions in sediments from Boston Harbor, United States. Mar Pollut Bull 42:1139–1149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Li X, Li BH, Shen ZY, Feng CH, Chen YX (2012) Characterization, sources, and potential risk assessment of PAHs in surface sediments from nearshore and farther shore zones of the Yangtze estuary, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19:4148–4158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2014) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth (Annual %). http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP. Accessed 2014

  • Yang H-H, Chen C-M (2004) Emission inventory and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere at a suburban area in Taiwan. Chemosphere 56:879–887

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Wang L, Niu J, Wang J, Shen Z (2009) Pollution assessment and source identifications of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of the Yellow River Delta, a newly born wetland in China. Environ Monit Assess 158:561–571

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Youngblood W, Blumer M (1975) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment: homologous series in soils and recent marine sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 39:1303–1314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yunker MB, Macdonald RW (2003) Alkane and PAH depositional history, sources and fluxes in sediments from the Fraser River Basin and Strait of Georgia, Canada. Org Geochem 34:1429–1454

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yunker MB, Macdonald RW, Vingarzan R, Mitchell RH, Goyette D, Sylvestre S (2002) PAHs in the Fraser River basin: a critical appraisal of PAH ratios as indicators of PAH source and composition. Org Geochem 33:489–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zakaria M, Takada H, Hironouchi A, Tanabe S, Ismail A, Shariff M (2000) Source identification of oil pollution using molecular markers in the Straits of Malacca. In: Towards sustainable management of the Straits of Malacca. Proceedings of the International Conference on the Straits of Malacca, 19-22 April 1999, Malacca, Malaysia. Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malacca (Malaysia)

  • Zakaria MP, Takada H, Tsutsumi S, Ohno K, Yamada J, Kouno E, Kumata H (2002) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rivers and estuaries in Malaysia: a widespread input of petrogenic PAHs. Environ Sci Technol 36:1907–1918

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang K, Liang B, Wang J-Z, Guan Y-F, Zeng EY (2012) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in upstream riverine runoff of the Pearl River Delta, China: an assessment of regional input sources. Environ Pollut 167:78–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was funded by Inisiatif Putra Berkumpulan Grant (IPB) through Universiti Putra Malaysia (Grant no. 9412401). The authors are very grateful to the chief editor and the reviewers of this article for their valuable contribution.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Forensics Research Center (ENFORCE), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Mehrzad Keshavarzifard & Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria

  2. School of Biological Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    Tan Shau Hwai

  3. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Ferdius Mohamat Yusuff

  4. Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 4300, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Shuhaimi Mustafa

Authors
  1. Mehrzad Keshavarzifard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tan Shau Hwai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ferdius Mohamat Yusuff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shuhaimi Mustafa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Leif Kronberg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Keshavarzifard, M., Zakaria, M.P., Hwai, T.S. et al. Distributions and source apportionment of sediment-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hopanes in rivers and estuaries of Peninsular Malaysia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 9424–9437 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4093-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4093-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation