Distribution and Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Sediment of Bushehr Coastal Zone-Iran

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in sediments measured from five stations in coastal area of Bushehr-Iran. Total PAHs concentration ranged from 844.9 to 4790.3 ng g-1 in summer and 935.0 to 4972.0 ng g-1 in winter. Significant difference was observed between total PAHs concentration in studied stations (P0.05). Based on the number of aromatic rings in the molecular structure, the composition pattern of PAHs was different within studied stations. The studied stations receives their PAHs from both petrogenic and pyrolitic sources. The level of PAHs contamination in the Bushehr coastline founded to be moderate to high compared with other studied locations. Regular monitoring of PAHs contaminant in the region is recommended.

Keywords

• PAHs
• Sediments
• Bushehr coast
• Pollution
• Pyrolitic
• Petrogenic