Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water, Soils and Surface Sediments of the Msunduzi River

Abstract

The concentration of seven Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (namely Naphthalene, Acenaphthylene, Fluorene, Phenanthrene, Anthracene, Pyrene and Chrysene) were determined in 28 surface waters, 8 wastewaters, 26 soils and 26 surface sediments from the Msunduzi River, a major supply of portable water in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa. Water samples were extracted using a conventional liquid-liquid extraction technique into Dichloromethane (DCM) while soils and surface sediments were extracted with an equal mixture of DCM and nhexane using the Soxhlet extraction technique. Purified extracts were analysed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Trace levels of PAHs were detected in some water, river bank soils and surface sediments. The concentration of PAHs was found to be comparatively higher in the soils and surface sediments than in the water. The concentration levels as well as distribution of the selected PAHs varied from season to season, however with no clear pattern. The occurrence pattern of PAHs along the river points to human-related activities as the major input sources of PAHs into Msunduzi water. Paired-up isomeric concentration ratios for surface sediments suggested pyrolysis as the major input source of PAHs, especially at sites closer to the city of Pietermaritzburg (PMB).

Ingestion and Dermal Cancer Risk via Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon–Contaminated Soils in an Oil‐Producing Community, Niger Delta, Nigeria

“…Several concentrations of PAH have been reported in topsoil and various environmental compartments from a number of cities around the world, underscoring the fact that PAH pollution is a major environmental concern especially in urban areas and cities with high levels of anthropogenic activities (Alegbeleye et al 2017). Some of these regions include China (Tang et al 2005;Zheng et al 2014;Wang et al 2015Wang et al , 2017, South Korea (Nam et al 2003), India (Gune et al 2019;Tarafdar and Sinha 2019), Portugal (Cachada et al 2012), Germany (Martens et al 1997), United Kingdom (Lorenzi et al 2010), Ghana (Bortey-Sam et al 2014;Bandowe and Nkansah 2016), South Africa (Nieuwoudt et al 2011;Okedeyi et al 2013;Munyengabe et al 2017;Omores 2017), and Kenya (Mungai et al 2019).…”

Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediment samples from KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa

“…The higher concentration for naphthalene could be due to its high solubility in water, while flourene's high concentration could be as a result of its high octanol/water partition constant (log K ow = 4.48), thus allowing it to bind to suspended solids and total organic carbons in the influent. The observed high concentrations of naphthalene and fluorene in Umhlathuzana and Amanzimtoti could also be due to their wide applications in the production of azo‐dyes, plasterboards, concrete, phathalic plasticizers and tanning agents (Munyengabe, 2016). These results are also supported by high conductivity values recorded in Amanzimtoti and Umhlathuzana (Table ), which were above the acceptable threshold limit of 700 µS/cm.…”

“…These results are also supported by high conductivity values recorded in Amanzimtoti and Umhlathuzana (Table ), which were above the acceptable threshold limit of 700 µS/cm. The reconstruction and development programme (RDP) by the housing department in Umhlathuzana and Amanzimtoti where concrete and plasterboards are employed may also account for the high concentrations of naphthalene and fluorine, (Munyengabe, 2016).…”

Heavy Metal Contamination Index, Metal Index and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Content of Ochani River in Ogoni, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…These further implicate the low quality of water as thereis numerous health challenges associated with these pollutants [20]. According to Munyengabe et al [21] the PAH compounds obtained in Ochani River that are implicated in causing cancer were benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzyl(a,h)anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(k)fluoranthene while fluorene, naphthalene, anthracene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, acenapthylene and phenanthrenewere reported as non-carcinogens [22].…”