The Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surficial Sediments of Sydney Harbour, Australia

doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00044-8

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume 40, Issue 11, November 2000, Pages 999-1006

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00044-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

Surface sediment was collected from 124 sites in Sydney Harbour and analysed for the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) listed as priority pollutants by the US EPA, as well as 2-methylnaphthalene. PAH concentrations varied widely, from <100 to 380 000 $μ$ g kg⁻¹ of total PAH. The spatial distribution of PAHs suggested that they derive predominantly from urban run-off. However, discrete point sources of PAH appear to exist at several sites. The relative abundance of individual PAH compounds was remarkably consistent throughout the harbour and indicated that high temperature combustion processes are the predominant source of PAH contamination in Sydney Harbour. Comparison with numerical effects-based sediment quality guidelines derived in the US indicated that most of the sites studied in Sydney Harbour (89%) have levels of PAH which are predicted to either occasionally or frequently result in adverse biological effects.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

Sediment samples were collected from 124 sites in Sydney Harbour between 23 November and 1 December 1998 (Fig. 1). The sites cover the entire extent of the estuary and represent the full range of sediment textures from fine-grained mud to coarse-grained sand.

The sediment samples were collected with a stainless steel boxcorer with a penetration of between 1cm and 20 cm, depending on the sediment texture. At each site, the top 1–2 cm of surface sediment was carefully removed with a stainless

Results and Discussion

Surface sediments in Sydney Harbour were found to contain a wide range of total PAH concentrations, from very low concentrations (<100 μg kg⁻¹ dry weight) to highly contaminated (380 000 μg kg⁻¹ dry weight) levels (Fig. 2). A comparison of fluoranthene concentrations from different locations around the world indicates that contaminated sites in Sydney Harbour are comparable to other areas impacted by urban/industrial activities (Fig. 3). Total PAH concentrations reported in the literature

Conclusions

Levels of total PAH (16 US EPA priority pollutants) in surficial sediments in Sydney Harbour were found to vary widely, from <100 to 380 000 μg kg⁻¹ dry weight. Higher levels of PAH contamination were generally found in the bay ends, which suggests that the PAHs were transported by urban run-off. However, very high PAH levels at a few sites suggested the influence of discrete point sources of pollution as well.

The relative abundance of parent PAH compounds at each site were remarkably similar,

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Edward R. Long for reviewing an early draft of this paper.

References (31)

ANZECC and ARMCANZ (1999) Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Draft. Australian...
Arcos, J. C. and Argus, M. G. (1975) Chemical induction of Cancer. Structural bases and biological mechanisms. Vol....
Baumard, P., Budzinski, H. and Garrigues, P. (1998) PAHs in Arcachon Bay, France: origin and biomonitoring with caged...
Benlahcen, K. T., Chaoui, A., Budzinski, H., Bellocq, J. and Garrigues, P. H. (1997) Distribution and sources of...
Birch, G. F. and Taylor, S. E. (1999) Source of heavy metals in sediments of the Port Jackson estuary, Australia. The...
Birch, G. F. and Taylor, S. E. (2000) The distribution and source of organochlorine residues in sediments of a large...
Botello, A. V., Villanueva, S. F., Diaz, G. G. and Escobar-Briones, E. (1998) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in...
Canton, L. and Grimalt, J. O. (1992) Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric characterization of polycyclic aromatic...
Eadie, B. J. (1984) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Great Lakes. In Toxic Contaminants in the...
Farrington, J. W. and Tripp, B. W. (1977) Hydrocarbons in western North Atlantic surface sediments. Geochimica et...

Gschwend, P. M. and Hites, R. A. (1981) Fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to marine and lacustrine sediments...

Hallet, D. J. and Brecher, R. W. (1984) Cycling of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the Great Lakes ecosystem. In...

Heit, M. (1985) The relationship of a coal fired power plant to the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in...

Heit, M., Tan, Y., Klusek, C. and Burke, J. C. (1981) Anthropogenic trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon...

Hites, R. A., Laflamme, R. E., Windsor, J. G., Farrington, J. W. and Deuser, W. G. (1980) Polycyclic aromatic...

Cited by (209)

Review and assessment of road-derived metals as a major contributor of metallic contaminants to urban stormwater and the estuarine environment (Sydney estuary, Australia)
2024, Journal of Hazardous Materials
Sydney Harbour (Australia). is one of the most metal-contaminated in the world and sediments are toxic over large areas. The major source of metals is stormwater, however there remains considerable debate regarding the source of metals in water entering the estuary. The current review and critical assessment of a large source of data accumulated from over three decades of research, supplemented by global studies, identified road-derived metals (RDMs) as the chief contributor of metals to stormwater and consequently to pollution of the estuary. Roads comprise almost 25% of a typical urban catchment and generate a considerable metal load from highly effective impervious surfaces and RDM is transported directly to the adjacent receiving basin with enhanced connectivity. In Sydney, industrial waste is delivered to the sewage system and is disposed of offshore, leaving RDM as a major contributor of metals to the stormwater system and estuarine environment. RDMs are modelled to be hazardous to the ecology and human health (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic diseases) in the catchment environment driven by high metal concentrations, small size and elevated bioavailability. Remediation of RDMs is complex, requiring extensive knowledge and an experienced management team. The enormous potential for water re-use is often neglected.
Distribution, source and potential biological impacts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the core sediments of a networked aquatic system in the northwest coast of India – A special focus on Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (Ramsar site)
2024, Regional Studies in Marine Science
Mumbai, one of the most industrialised and inhabited cities in the world, has been confronting an exponential increase in pollution brought about by anthropogenic activities throughout its coastal belt over the years. The historical accumulation of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments of Thane creek, Panvel creek and the Ulhas estuarine river system was examined in light of these circumstances. The present study has found that the PAHs were distributed vertically in the sediments of Thane Creek as 16.53 – 1317.02 ng/g dw and Ulhas Estuary as 105.44 – 1815.20 ng/g dw. Major sources of PAHs pollution to the system like petroleum spillages, biomass burning and vehicular exhaust was discernible based on molecular diagnostic ratio (MDR) and principal component analysis (PCA) tools, signifying petrogenic and pyrogenic origins. Based on the total toxicity equivalence (TEQ) and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indices, high or moderate contamination risks have been identified in the lower and middle regions of the Ulhas estuary, as well as in the lower regions of Thane creek. Specifically, high contamination risk of benzo[a]pyrene which has high cancerous potential, was identified in the above sites.
The potential accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in macroalgae from the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea
2023, Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research
In the marine environment, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute one of the most pervasive and harmful types of organic pollutants. They pose an additional hazard to marine creatures' resilience due to ongoing climatic change. Therefore, determining their concentration and source is important for estimating their possible risks. Utilizing (GC–MS), we analyzed PAH levels in marine algal tissues along the Red Sea's Ras Gharib coastline. The present study covered the collection of seven Red Sea macroalgae namely; Sargassum cinereum, Caulerpa racemosa, Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus, 1753, Turbinaria ornata, Hormophysa cuneiformis, Ulva lactuca, and Cystoseira myrica) from the Ras Gharib coastline. Sixteen PAHs were found at quantities ranging from 159.67 to 261.57 ng/g in all of the examined marine algal tissues. The average concentration of the 16 PAHs was the highest in S. cinereum and the lowest in U. lactuca. The mean concentration of benzo(a)anthracene (BaA) in S. cinereum was 74.12 parts per billion (ng g⁻¹). Two- and three-ringed PAHs with a lower molecular weight amounted to 2.51 to 23.54% of all PAH components in algal tissues. The average contribution of the eight cancer-causing PAHs to the total TEQcarc of the investigated species was sequentially as follows: BaP (50.23%), BaA (32.18%), BbF (6.52%), BkF (5.20%), IP (4.50%), and Chr (2.00%). The results of the diagnostic ratios demonstrated that the primary causes of most PAHs were combined pyrogenic and petrogenic activities. This suggests employing these indicators to investigate the biological impacts of PAHs pollution and establish its bioavailability in the marine environment.
Occurrence and health risks assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in road dust and soil samples at Dhaka city, Bangladesh
2023, Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
The status of PAH in the urban areas of Bangladesh is not known. For the first time, this study investigated concentration, spatial distributions, likely sources and potential toxicities of PAHs. 13 PAH compounds were analyzed in RDS (dust) and NS (soils) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). PAHs were enriched in relatively high molecular weight compounds (>3 rings), and Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene was the most abundant, indicating pyrogenic sources. Both in NS and RDS the concentrations of all PAHs were signiﬁcantly associated to one another except high molecular weight PAHs (6 rings). There is no carcinogenic and health hazard for children and adults.
A comprehensive analysis of all known fishes from Sydney Harbour
2022, Marine Pollution Bulletin
Fishes represent an important natural resource and yet their diversity and function in dynamic estuaries with relatively high levels of human pressure such as Sydney Harbour have rarely been quantified. Further, Eastern Australia supports the survival and persistence of an increasing number of tropical species found within temperate estuaries owing to increasing average ocean temperatures. A re-valuation of the number of fish species known from Sydney Harbour is therefore needed. In this study, we generated an up-to-date and annotated checklist of fishes recorded from Sydney Harbour based on verified natural history records as well as newly available citizen science records based on opportunistic observations and structured surveys. We explored the spatial and temporal distribution of these records. In addition, we quantified the function, conservation status, and commercial importance of the identified fishes. The number of fish species recorded from Sydney Harbour now stands at 675, an increase of 89 species (15 %) when compared to the most recent evaluation in 2013. We attribute this increase in fish diversity over a relatively short time to the contribution of newer citizen science programs as well as the influx and survival of fishes in the Harbour with preferences for warmer waters. Some fish families were also overrepresented in the more urbanized and polluted sections of the Harbour. In forecasting further environmental impacts on the fishes of Sydney Harbour, we recommend increased integration of collaborative citizen science programs and natural history collections as a means to track these changes.
PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, and OCPs trapped and remobilized in the Lake of Cavazzo (NE Italy) sediments: Temporal trends, quality, and sources in an area prone to anthropogenic and natural stressors
2022, Environmental Research
Under the present climatic emergency, the environmental quality of freshwater reservoirs is an increasingly urgent topic as its deterioration threatens humans and ecosystems. It is evident that pollution by natural and anthropogenic contaminants must be avoided or reduced. The Lake of Cavazzo (NE Italy) is a natural perialpine basin which, from the mid-20th century, has sustained several anthropogenic impacts that added to the effects of the intense regional seismicity. Starting from 2015, in response to concerns raised by local authorities, a multidisciplinary investigation of the lake floor and sub-floor was conducted, including a geophysical survey and the collection of sediment cores. Two of them were studied to detect contamination by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and specific Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs; i.e. PolyChlorinated Biphenyls - PCBs, PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ethers - PBDEs, and OrganoChlorine Pesticides - OCPs), and to verify the link with known anthropogenic stressors. Results were interpreted in light of previous studies suggesting modified conditions after the ‘50s, and recognized the effects of the 1976–1977 M_W 6.5 seismic sequence in resuspending sediments within the basin. Analyzed pollutants defined a potential critical situation only for few OCPs, above all 2,4’- and 4,4′-DDT isomers. In addition, PBDEs were found at concentrations exceeding those of other heavily polluted alpine lakes. Mass movements (either seismic or human induced) have likely resuspended and transferred pollutants from shallower locations to the lake depocenter, showing the potential of re-exposing contaminated layers to biomagnification processes along the lacustrine food chain. Local inputs of pollutants prevail over distributed sources, suggesting a link with local agricultural or industrial activities. Indeed, works connected to the construction of the hydroelectric power plant in the ‘50s might have reworked local sediments perturbing their natural accretion. Results of this work might inspire similar studies in other problematic lacustrine areas that sustain both natural and anthropogenic stressors.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text