engleski

Assessment of environmental risk related to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the sediments along the eastern Adriatic coast

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were investigated in the sediments at 24 locations in the coastal area of the Adriatic Sea. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 14, 98 to 26145, 62 µg kg-1, with the highest levels determined in the sediments of Sibenik Bay and the lowest in the sediment near the Island of Pag. Unsubstituted PAH were the prevailing PAH group in the sediments from the Sibenik Bay and in the Coastal area, while methyl-substituted PAH were the dominant group in the sediments of the Kastela Bay. In order to estimate the possible toxicological significance of PAH concentrations, Sediment Quality Assessment was done according to three different sets of sediment quality guidelines. The high environmental risk was calculated for each station in Sibenik Bay ; for the station in the vicinity of the Industrial port of Split and the two stations in the Coastal zone. The low environmental risk was determined in less urbanised areas such as the Island of Pag. Sediment extracts were further analysed for acute toxicity by measurements of a decrease in bioluminescence upon exposure to sediment extracts. Obtained results show disagreement between sediment toxicity predicted upon PAH levels in sediment and experimentally obtained sediment toxicity. Sediment extracts in which low PAH levels were measured showed high acute toxicity indicating that concentrations of PAH alone are a poor indicator of sediment toxicity. Correlation analysis between concentrations of specific PAH compounds and toxicity revealed the strongest association between acute sediment toxicity and sulphur-containing PAH suggesting the S-PAH should be considered in sediment toxicity assessment.

PAH, Sediment, Adriatic Sea, Sediment Quality Assessment, Bioassay, Marine pollution.

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