Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of highly polluted coastal area in the Red Sea: levels, spatial distribution, and risk assessment.

The southern part of the Jeddah coast faces a range of pollution challenges that can impact the water quality and ecosystem in the area. Pollution sources are represented mainly by treated wastewater (TWW), harbor activities, and atmospheric deposition from vehicle exhaust emissions. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the persistent organic pollutants that interfere with all environmental matrices and could cause humane mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. In the present study, 16 priority parent and 21 methylated PAHs (∑37PAHs) were assessed in the sediments of three hot spot coastal sites (Islamic Jeddah port, Al-Arbaeen, and Al-Shabab lagoons) to evaluate the factors affecting their spatial distribution, examine their probable sources and potential adverse effects. The total detected concentrations of ∑37PAHs ranged from 785.9 to 8359.8 ng/g dw (average: 2296.3 ± 2017.3 ng/g dw). The highest levels of ∑37PAHs were detected near TWW stations. The highest individual PAH congeners observed were phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene. PAH molecular diagnostic ratios pointed out different pyrogenic sources. In some specific stations, there was an overlap of petrogenic origin. The sediment samples contained high concentrations of methylated PAHs, with concentrations ranging from 558.42 to 6321.21 ng/g dw and an average concentration of 1679.1 ± 1430.7 ng/g dw. The sediment quality guidelines indicated that adverse biological effects are likely to occur at least at the two TWW disposal stations and the sediments in these stations are at risk. The values of the mutagenic equivalence quotient (MEQ) and toxic equivalence quotient (TEQ) of carcinogenic PAHs were recorded at 39.88 and 33.17 ng/g, respectively.

Spatial distribution, sources and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surficial sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast.

The Egyptian Mediterranean coast (EMC) receives a considerable quantity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs from EMC sediments were assessed to understand the effects of marine and riverine currents on their distribution. The concentrations of total PAHs ranged between 13,156-34,852 ng/g dw. PAH levels have increased even in areas far from the shoreline under the influence of riverine inputs from the Nile River; this is attributed to the tidally induced riverine freshwater re-suspension of surface sediments in the shallow near-shore section and re-precipitation in the fare stations. PAH levels generally increase as one moves from the western to the eastern part of the studied area, owing to the effect of the marine current. Diagnostic ratios pointed toward different pyrogenic sources. SQGs were used to assess the probability of observing adverse biological effects in benthic organisms in sediment samples. The toxic and mutagenic equivalent quotient for carcinogenic PAHs was extremely high.

Horizontal and vertical segregation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Egyptian Mediterranean coast.

Egyptian Mediterranean coast receives significant amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from industrial exhausts, riverine inputs, maritime shipping and fishers, and oil and natural gas production and exploration. The present study considers the first exhaustive assessment for the dissolved PAHs along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast (Alexandria to Manzallah) to monitor their spatial distribution and investigate the effect of the marine currents and the role of microorganisms in their distribution. Surface water levels ranged between 124.97 and 301.02 ng L-1 with an average 223.68 ± 41.11 ng L-1. The distribution increases from west to east based on the water circulation in the Mediterranean Sea. The levels in near shore stations were lower than those of middle and onshore stations. The intensive existence of micro-organisms near shore stations consumes great part of PAHs, while this bio-remediation process decreases gradually away from the shoreline leaving relative high concentrations of dissolved PAHs in the middle and onshore stations. Middle and deep-water levels ranged between 312.75 and 1042.95 ng L-1 with an average 633.47 ± 225.53 ng L-1. Deeper waters showed higher PAHs concentrations where the average concentrations of 50 m stations (868.12 ± 138.35 ng L-1) ˃ 30 m stations (629.49 ± 143.85 ng L-1) ˃ 10 m stations (402.79 ± 59.46 ng L-1). The wind-induced waves re-suspend rich PAHs sediment particles to increase its concentration in the water column. Carcinogenic toxic equivalent quotient (TEQ) for total detected PAHs in the middle and deep water represented more than double (75.46 ng TEQ L-1) the value in the surface water (34.76 ng TEQ L-1). The diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis indicated mainly pyrogenic origin in surface, middle, and deep waters.

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol in natural seawater using visible light active carbon modified (CM)-n-TiO2 nanoparticles under UV light and natural sunlight illuminations.

The photocatalytic degradation of phenol in seawater was investigated under UV and natural sunlight using visible light active carbon modified (CM)-n-TiO2 nanoparticles, synthesized via a sol-gel method. Carbon modification of n-TiO2 was performed using titanium butoxide, carbon-containing precursor, as a source of both carbon and titanium. For comparison, unmodified n-TiO2 was also synthesized by hydrolysis and oxidation of titanium trichloride in the absence of any carbon source. The presence of carbon in CM-n-TiO2 nanoparticles was confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Carbon modification was found to be responsible for lowering the bandgap energy from 3.14eV for n-TiO2 to 1.86eV for CM-n-TiO2 which in turn enhanced the photocatalytic activity of CM-n-TiO2 towards the degradation of phenol in seawater under illumination of UV light as well as natural sunlight. This enhanced photoresponse of CM-n-TiO2 is in agreement with the UV-Vis spectroscopic results that showed higher absorption of light in both UV and visible regions. The effects of catalyst dose, initial concentration of phenol, and pH were studied. The highest degradation rate was obtained at pH 3 and catalyst dose of 1.0gL(-1). The data photocatalytic degradation of phenol in seawater using CM-n-TiO2 were successfully fitted to Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, and can be described by pseudo-first order kinetics.