Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from the Karachi Harbour and off-Clifton Coast, Karachi: spatial distribution, composition and ecological risk assessment
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2017, Vol 11, Issue 4
Abstract
We reported the distributions and compositions of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of 13 surface sediment samples of the Karachi Harbour and off-Clifton coast. The total concentrations of the PAHs in surface sediments ranged from 6.47 to 104.462 ng/g dry weights with a mean concentration 27.519 ng/g dry weights. PAHs distribution showed that 2-3- and 4-ring PAHs were predominant in almost all of the samples. On average, 2-3, 4, and 5-6-ring PAHs consisted of 56 %, 42 % and 2% of total PAHs, respectively. The m-ERM-q and Risk Quotient (RQ) were also used to assess the ecological risk of PAHs. The m-ERM-q average values were 0.61 and 0.14 in Karachi Harbour and off-Clifton coast respectively. The value of m-ERM-q indicates that PAHs concentrations are approximately 9-21% and with 30-46% probability of toxicity to benthic organisms of off-Clifton coast and Karachi Harbour respectively. Risk Quotient RQ ΣPAHs (NCs) calculated values were in a range from 5,301 to 32,810.The present study results show that the ecological risk of PAHs in the sediments of Karachi Harbour were very high but there was relatively lower risk in off-Clifton coast sediments. The purpose of this study was to determine the ecological risk of PAHs in marine environment of the Karachi harbor and off-Clifton coastal sediments.
Authors and Affiliations
Monawwar Saleem, Arshad Ali Khan, Kashif Ahmed, Muhammad Qamaruddin, Sanober Kahkashan, Syed Imran Hasany, Javed Aftab
Keywords
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