Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons assessment in the sediments of the Porto Torres Harbor (Northern Sardinia, Italy)

• Published in: Marine chemistry 2004-04, Vol.86 (1), p.15-32
• Main Authors: De Luca, Giuseppe, Furesi, Antonio, Leardi, Riccardo, Micera, Giovanni, Panzanelli, Angelo, Costantina Piu, Paola, Sanna, Gavino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Geographic bounding coordinates: 40°50′85″–40°50′98″N, 08°23′60″–8°24′08″E; Harbor; Italy; Marine; Mediterranean Sea; Mineralogy; Petrogenic; Pollution, environment geology; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Porto Torres Harbor; Pyrolytic; Sardinia; Sediment; Silicates; Soil and rock geochemistry; Water geochemistry
• ISSN: 0304-4203; 1872-7581
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marchem.2003.11.001

The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments of Porto Torres Harbor (north Sardinia, Italy) was investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS). PAHs concentrations in the sediment (∑PAHs) ranged from 0.07 to 1.21 μg g −1, indicating low to moderate PAHs pollution. Principal component analysis (PCA), the comparative evaluation of PAHs low/high molecular weight and isomeric ratios, suggests that the pollution source is petrogenic (probably due to oil spills from ship and tanker, and to petrochemical plants near the shoreline). A significant contribution from pyrolytic PAHs is found only in the most polluted sediments. Terrigenous flows (e.g., municipal or river waters) do not affect the PAHs balance of the harbor at all. The good linear correlation between chrysene concentration and the total amount of the other 15 US EPA concerning PAHs suggests the use of chrysene as a possible marker of PAHs pollution.