Occurrence and Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Marine Surface Microlayer of an Industrialized Coastal Area in the Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

Concentrations of dissolved and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined seasonally in sea surface microlayer (SML) and sub-surface water (SSW) within the Saronicos Gulf, Greece, close to a highly industrialized coastal zone. For the 16 US EPA priority PAHs, the sum of dissolved PAHs (∑dPAHs) concentrations ranged from 40.4 to 237 ng L−1 in SML, 22.8–180 ng L−1 in SSW0.2, whereas the corresponding concentrations in suspended particulate matter (∑pPAHs) were 30.8 to 177 ng L−1 and 36.8–171 ng L−1, respectively. The enrichment factor (EF) for dissolved ∑dPAHs varied from 0.9 to 2.1 with a mean value of 1.5 (n = 10) being statistically significantly greater than unity, whereas for particulate ∑pPAHs, no enrichment of the SML was reported. Enrichment factors of 5–6 ring PAHs were higher near the industrial zone. The possible sources, fate, and toxicity of PAHs are also discussed.

Keywords

• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• sea surface microlayer
• subsurface water
• enrichment
• industrialized coastal area
• Eastern Mediterranean Sea