Geochemical Control of PAHs by Inflowing River Water to West Nanao Bay, Japan, and Its Influences on Ecological Risk: Small-Scale Changes Observed under Near-Background Conditions at an Enclosed Bay

Rodrigo Mundo, Tetsuya Matsunaka, Hisanori Iwai, Shinya Ochiai and Seiya Nagao
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Rodrigo Mundo: Division of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
Tetsuya Matsunaka: Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Nomi 923-1224, Japan
Hisanori Iwai: Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Nomi 923-1224, Japan
Shinya Ochiai: Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Nomi 923-1224, Japan
Seiya Nagao: Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Nomi 923-1224, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), even at low concentrations, have been shown to trigger changes in life cycles and provoke abnormal behaviors in numerous marine organisms. From May 2019 to September 2020, particulate and dissolved PAH concentrations were analyzed on the surface water of West Nanao Bay, Japan, to determinate their levels, emission sources, environmental pathways, and ecological risks at this remote but semi-enclosed bay. The 14 targeted PAHs were analyzed by HPLC-fluorescence detector. Mean total PAH concentrations were lower than 20.0 ng L ?1 for most samples. Based on fluoranthene (Flu) to pyrene (Pyr) ([Flu]/[Flu + Pyr]) and benzo[a]anthracene (BaA) to chrysene (Chr) ([BaA]/[BaA + Chr]) isomeric ratios and a varimax rotated PCA, it was established that biomass combustion was the principal source in the particulate phase and that liquid fossil fuel combustion was the principal source in the dissolved phase. From salinity and turbidity distribution, riverine discharges were determined to be the major and continuous transportation pathway of particulate PAHs. It was observed that rain events had a role in the transport of dissolved PAHs. The risk quotients (RQ ?14 PAHs (NCs) : 0–84.53) indicated that PAHs represented a very low to low acute environmental risk. The results of this study will contribute to filling the paradigm gap of ecotoxicological studies in remote areas, working as a booster for future in-lab studies of non-lethal implications of endocrine disruptors such as PAHs.

Keywords: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; remote coastal marine areas; environmental organic pollutants; ecological risk assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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