Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments of Southern Terengganu, South China Sea, Malaysia: Source assessment using diagnostic ratios and multivariate statistic
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2022
Abstract
Surface sediments along the Southern Terengganu coast (<= 7 km from the coast) were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The concentrations of 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (sigma PAH(16)) ranged from 2.59 to 155 ng g(-1) and their respective alkylated ranged between 8.80 and 24.90 ng g(-1). Traces of acephenanthrylene, benzoc]phenanthrene, thiophenic PAH, and benzonaphthofuran were identified. PAH diagnostic ratios and cross-plots revealed that these sedimentary PAH compounds are derived mainly from pyrogenic sources, primarily from biomass burning and petroleum combustion residues with minor petrogenic input. The high correlations between pyrogenic PAHs to total PAHs (r >0.73, p <0.5), and the Bap/Bep ratio to total PAHs (r = 0.88, p <0.5), suggest that atmospheric deposition and urban runoff are the main deposition pathways. The concentrations of the PAHs in the southern South China Sea fall in the moderate contamination range of 100-1000 ng g(-1).
Keywords
Atmospheric deposition, Biomass burning, Coastal sediments, PAH diagnostic ratios
Divisions
CHEMISTRY
Funders
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) through an E-Science Fund [04-01-12-SF0065],Higher Institution Centre of Excellence Research Grant [66928]
Publication Title
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume
29
Issue
11
Publisher
Springer Heidelberg
Publisher Location
TIERGARTENSTRASSE 17, D-69121 HEIDELBERG, GERMANY