Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments from the Rijeka Bay area, Northern Adriatic, Croatia, 1998–2006

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2011-04, Vol.62 (4), p.863-869
• Main Author: Alebic-Juretic, Ana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Croatia; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Marine; Marine sediments; Mediterranean Sea; Natural water pollution; Northern Adriatic; PAHs; petroleum; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Polyallylamine hydrochloride; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Refineries; Sampling; Seawater - chemistry; Seawaters, estuaries; Sediments; Shipyards; Time trends; Toxicity; Toxicity index; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; water pollution; Water Pollution, Chemical - statistics & numerical data; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.01.035

► PAHs in marine sediments from the Rijeka Bay, Northern Adriatic area were examined. ► Higher PAHs loading were found in repair shipyard than petroleum refinery area. ► There was a dominance of pyrogenic over petrogenic PAHs. ► Decline in PAHs loadings and potential ecotoxicity observed in the period 1998–2006. The first analyses of PAHs in marine sediments within Rijeka Bay started in 1998 at three sampling sites offshore from the petroleum refinery facilities and were extended in 1999 to three more sampling points in front of the repair shipyard within the same east industrial zone. The small Svezanj cove, lying between the shipyard and the petroleum refinery was chosen as the reference point. The concentrations of PAHs were considerably higher in the shipyard environment (average: 3009–6314μgkg−1 d.w.) in comparison to the petroleum refinery area (average: 279–919μgkg−1 d.w.), while the PAHs load at reference point was close to the latter level (average: 717μgkg−1 d.w.). The Phe/Anth and Flo/Py ratios indicate the dominant pyrogenic sources, except for the results from 1999 to 2000 with dominant petrogenic origin at some sites. A declining trend of total PAHs, and consequently toxicity indices was observed at all sites.