Distributions and source apportionment of sediment-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hopanes in rivers and estuaries of Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

In this study, the distributions and sources of sediment-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and hopanes in the Malaysian rivers and estuaries were evaluated. The concentrations of 16 USEPA PAHs varied from 225.5 to 293.9 (Perlis River), 195.2 to 481.2 (Kedah River), 791.2 to 1995.4 (Merbok River), 231.2 to 426.7 (Perak River), and 3803.2 to 7442.7 ng g(-1) (Klang River) dry weight. PAHs can be classified as moderate in the Perlis, Kedah, and Perak Rivers, moderate to high in the Merbok River, and high to very high in the Klang River. The comparison of PAHs with sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicates that occasionally adverse biological effects may occur from total PAHs, low molecular weight (LMW), and high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs at stations 1, 2, and 3 of the Klang River and from total PAHs at station 2 of the Merbok River. The diagnostic ratios of individual PAHs indicate both petrogenic and pyrogenic origin PAHs with significant dominance of pyrogenic sources in the study areas. The results suggest that Malaysian sediments had hopane ratios (C29/C30) similar to MECO suggesting MECO as a major source of the petroleum hydrocarbons found in the sediments, which is consistent with results reported in previous studies. These findings demonstrate that effective and improved environmental regulations in Malaysia have shifted the source of petroleum hydrocarbons from petrogenic to pyrogenic origin.

Distribution and Source of Sedimentary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) in River Sediment of Jakarta

“…The contamination level of PAHs in Jakarta riverine sediments fell within the range of high levels (1,000-5,000 ng/g) to very high levels (>5,000 ng/g). The total concentration of PAHs from this study was higher than that of most rivers in Malaysia [13][14][15], Luan River estuary, China [16] and Yangtze River Estuary, China [17]. The highest total PAHs concentration in Jakarta's river was lower than that Bharalu River, India [18] and Scarpe Rivers, Northern France [19].…”

Role of environmental factors and microorganisms in determining the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the marine environment

“…2007) in China, or petroleum combustion deposits in Malaysian estuaries (Keshavarzifard et al. 2015), the San Francisco Estuary in the USA (Oros and Ross 2004) and the Mersey Estuary in the UK (Vane, Harrison and Kim 2007). The main contribution of direct petrogenic sources has been identified mainly in harbours as evidenced for the Yangshan Port in China (Li et al.…”

Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated soil by immobilized laccase

“…It is a protein in Rhus vernicifera that can catalyze the immobilization of coatings and was first identified in 1883 by Yoshida, a famous Japanese scholar. 14 More than a decade later, Keshavarzifard et al 15 also found the enzyme in fungi and named it 'laccase'. Laccase is generally divided into plant laccase, fungal laccase, and bacterial laccase.…”

“…[19][20][21] New carrier materials based on immobilized laccase could increase the stability and repetition for the utilization of laccase, and reduce the cost of its degradation. 15 Immobilized laccase has been mainly used in the production of food, pharmaceuticals, and other biological degradation techniques. [22][23][24] In this study, two methods using immobilized laccase were applied to the remediation of PAHs in soils, under different temperature and pH conditions.…”