Seasonal occurrence, source evaluation and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in industrial and agricultural effluents discharged in Wadi El Bey (Tunisia)

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 1609 - 1627
• Main Authors: Gdara, Imen, Zrafi, Ines, Balducci, Catia, Cecinato, Angelo, Ghrabi, Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-08-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural wastes; Agriculture; Anthracene; Aquatic ecosystems; Aromatic compounds; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Benzo(a)pyrene; Bioaccumulation; Carcinogens; Cyclic compounds; Diagnostic systems; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological risk assessment; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Effluents; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Evaluation; Gas chromatography; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Geochemistry; Industrial effluents; Industrial Waste - analysis; Industrial wastes; Industrial wastewater; Original Paper; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Public Health; Pyrene; Ratios; Risk Assessment; Seasons; Soil Science & Conservation; Spectrometry; Terrestrial Pollution; Tunisia; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Watersheds; Tunisia; Industrial effluents; Water pollution; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Carcinogenic risk assessment; Agricultural effluents; Molecular signatures
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-018-0075-2

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are of great concern due to their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxic properties. The occurrence, source and ecological risk assessment of 26 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in industrial and agricultural effluents affecting the Wadi El Bey watershed were investigated by means of gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis (GC/MS). Total PAHs (∑ 26 PAH) ranged from 1.21 to 91.7 µg/L. The 4- and 5-ring compounds were the principal PAHs detected in most of 5 sites examined. Diagnostic concentration ratios and molecular indices were performed to identify the PAH sources. Results show that PAHs could originate from petrogenic, pyrolytic and mixed sources. According to the ecotoxicological assessment, the potential risk associated with PAHs affecting agricultural and industrial effluents ranged from moderate to high for both aquatic ecosystem and human health. The toxic equivalency factor (TEF) approach indicated that benzo[a]pyrene and benz[a]anthracene were the principal responsible for carcinogenic power of samples.