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Occurrence, distribution, sources, and bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in multi environmental media in estuaries and the coast of the Beibu Gulf, China: a health risk assessment through seafood consumption

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Abstract

The coastal zone is a crucial transitional area between land and ocean, which is facing enormous pressure due to global climate change and anthropogenic activities. It is essential to pay close attention to the pollution caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the coastal environment and their effect on human health. The pollution status of PAHs was investigated in the Beibu Gulf, taking into consideration various environmental media. The results showed that the total concentration of 16 PAHs (Σ16PAHs) was significantly higher in winter than in summer. Compared to the coastal area, the status of PAHs in the estuarine areas was found to be more severe in summer, while the regional difference was insignificant in winter. In summer, the Σ16PAHs in estuarine waters (71.4 ± 9.58 ng/L) > coastal waters (50.4 ± 9.65 ng/L); estuarine sediment (146 ± 116 ng/g) > coastal zone (76.9 ± 108 ng/g). The source apportionment indicated that spilled oil, biomass, and coal burning were the primary sources of PAHs in the water. The predominant sources of pollution in the sediments were spilled oil, fossil fuel burning, and vehicle emissions. With regard to the status of PAHs in marine organisms in the coastal area of the Beibu Gulf, the highest average concentration of PAHs was indicated in shellfishes (183 ± 165 ng/g), followed by fishes (73.7 ± 57.2 ng/g), shrimps (42.7 ± 19.2 ng/g), and crabs (42.7 ± 19.2 ng/g) in Beibu Gulf coastal area. The calculated bioaccumulation factor indicates a low bioaccumulation capacity of PAHs in various seafood considering the ambient environment. The human health risk assessment considering multiple age groups indicates minimal health risk on accidental ingestion of PAHs through seafood. However, it is suggested that the intake of shellfish in children be controlled.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42030502 and 42090041), the Guangxi scientific projects (Nos. 2020GXNSDA297005, AD17129063, AA17204074), and Innovation Project of Guangxi Graduate Education (YCBZ2021013).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangxi Laboratory On the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, School of Marine Sciences, Coral Reef Research Center of China, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China

    Minwei Han, Fang Liu, Yaru Kang, Ruijie Zhang, Kefu Yu, Yinghui Wang & Ruixuan Wang

  2. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519080, China

    Ruijie Zhang & Kefu Yu

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  1. Minwei Han
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  2. Fang Liu
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  3. Yaru Kang
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  4. Ruijie Zhang
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  5. Kefu Yu
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  6. Yinghui Wang
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  7. Ruixuan Wang
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Contributions

Minwei Han: investigation, visualization, methodology, data analysis, writing—original draft preparation; Fang Liu: visualization, editing, sample pretreatment; Yaru Kang: editing, sample pretreatment; Ruijie Zhang: conceptualization, methodology, data curation, validation, writing—reviewing and editing; Kefu Yu: conceptualization, funding acquisition, resource, supervision; Yinghui Wang: project administration, writing—reviewing and editing; Ruixuan Wang: sample pretreatment, writing—reviewing and editing.

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Han, M., Liu, F., Kang, Y. et al. Occurrence, distribution, sources, and bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in multi environmental media in estuaries and the coast of the Beibu Gulf, China: a health risk assessment through seafood consumption. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 52493–52506 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19542-y

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