Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in small craft harbor (SCH) surficial sediments in Nova Scotia, Canada

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2019-11, Vol.691, p.528-537
• Main Authors: Davis, Emily, Walker, Tony R., Adams, Michelle, Willis, Rob, Norris, Gary A., Henry, Ronald C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Multivariate receptor modeling; PAH diagnostic ratios; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Small craft harbor (SCH) sediments; Source apportionment; Unmix Optimum
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.114

Multiple source apportionment approaches were employed to investigate PAH sources which contribute to small craft harbor (SCH) sediments in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada. A total of 580 sediment samples were analyzed using PAH diagnostic ratios, Unmix Optimum receptor modeling, and by assessment of the composition of the PAH profile. PAH diagnostic ratios suggest PAHs are primarily of pyrogenic (thermal) origin, while UnmixO modeling identifies four individual sources which best describe surficial sediments and suggests contributions from both pyrogenic and petrogenic origins. These include coal combustion, automobile exhaust, and biomass incineration. PAH profile assessment determined an overwhelming contribution of high molecular weight PAHs, which exhibited a strong correlation with total PAH concentrations. [Display omitted] •Sediment was assessed for source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons•Multiple lines of evidence investigated PAH sources from NS harbor sediments•US EPA Unmix Optimum modeling was applied to reveal potential PAH sources•PAHs produced from pyrogenic processes appear as the dominating source•Results suggest terrestrial activities greatly contribute PAHs to sediment