TITLE:
Abundance and Source Identification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediments of the Ivory Coastal Zone (Toukouzou Hozalem-Assinie)
AUTHORS:
Laure Emma Oura, Vanh Eric-Simon Zran, Georges Kouadio, Horo Koné, Affoué Tindo Sylvie Konan, Albert Trokourey, Kouassi Benjamin Yao, Fofana Bakary
KEYWORDS:
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Sediment, Source, Abundance, Ivorian Coastal
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Analytical Chemistry,
Vol.14 No.1,
January
16,
2023
ABSTRACT: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are strongly associated with agricultural, residential, transportation, industrial and petroleum activities. In this study, the presence of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) was investigated in sediments of the ivory coastal zone (Toukouzou Hozalem-Assinie). The main objectives of this study were to determine the abundance and to predict the source of PAHs in the sediments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze sixteen priority PAHs. Total PAHs concentrations were from 1.31 to 3992.68 mg/kg in sediment with an average concentration of (307.54 ± 16.10) mg/kg. Among all PAHs, Naphthalene (Nap = 332.72 mg/kg) and Phenanthrene (Phe = 41.75 mg/kg) were found in the highest concentration, whereas Benzo (k) Fluoranthene was found in the least concentration in the range of 0 - 0.85 mg/kg (mean 0.24 mg/kg). Bassam-Modeste Lagune (BML) sampling site was the site with the highest concentration of total PAHs (all 16 PAHs) compared to the others due to their location in a highly populated estuary area that receives commercial, tourism, port, petroleum and heavy industrial activities. Diagnostic ratios were used to determine the sources of PAHs and suggested that the PAH profile in the sediments was dominated by 2 and 3 ring PAHs. The patterns of PAH compounds in sediment indicated that contamination is from mixed sources, with a strong indication of petrogenic contamination potentially from spills of fuel, oil and industrial activities.