Nature, distribution and origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments of Olbia harbor (Northern Sardinia, Italy)

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2005-11, Vol.50 (11), p.1223-1232
• Main Authors: De Luca, Giuseppe, Furesi, Antonio, Micera, Giovanni, Panzanelli, Angelo, Piu, Paola Costantina, Pilo, Maria Itria, Spano, Nadia, Sanna, Gavino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Formicidae; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Harbor; Italy; Marine; Olbia harbor; Petrogenic; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Pyrolytic; Sediments; Soil and sediments pollution
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.04.021

The nature, origin and distribution of US EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments of Olbia harbor (North Sardinia, Italy) were investigated by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS). PAH concentrations in the sediments (∑PAHs) ranged from 0.16 to 0.77 μg g −1, indicating a homogeneously low level of pollution. A rather exceptional prevalence of low molecular weight PAHs was substantiated: nearly 80% of ∑PAHs include naphthalene (15.19%) and phenanthrene (64.47%). Carcinogenic compounds were present in very low (BaP, BkF, BaA and DBA) or negligible (BbF and Inp) concentrations. As indicated by the Phen/Ant molar ratio, the main source of PAHs is petrogenic, probably due to oil spills from shipping. The low/high molecular weight ratio (ranging between 1.2 and 26) distinguishes the sediments of the tourist harbor from those of the commercial/industrial harbor. Moreover, a slight but meaningful pyrolytic contribution to pollution was found in the tourist harbor, which has the most polluted sediments in the whole harbor. Finally, good linear correlations were found between a selected PAH (Phen and Naph) and selected sums of PAHs (i.e. the total amount of the other 15 US EPA and the sum of low molecular weight PAHs).