Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Surface Sediments of Lake Manzala, Egypt Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This investigation represents the first extensive study of the spatial distribution, sources, and potential effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from Lake Manzala, the largest of Egypt's Mediterranean coastal lakes. The concentrations of PAHs (39 components) ranged from 246 to 9910 ng g-1 dry wt., the highest values corresponding to urban hotspots with high anthropogenic input coming from wastewater discharges and combustion activities and decreasing offshore. The levels of PAHs were significantly lower compared to values reported in several coastal/estuarine areas (e.g., in Spain, Italy, USA, and Egypt) receiving substantial anthropogenic inputs from urban and industrial activities. Source ratios indicated that the PAHs were mainly from petrogenic sources in near-shore urban hotspots, with higher contributions of pyrolytic sources in coastal and offshore areas which are little influenced by human activities. Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) showed that except at one station heavily impacted by sewage discharge, the total and individual PAH concentrations were below effect range low (ERL) concentrations that are not likely to adversely affect benthic biota. 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

published proceedings

  • SOIL & SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION

author list (cited authors)

  • Barakat, A. O., Mostafa, A., El-Sayed, N. B., Wade, T. L., & Sweet, S. T.

citation count

  • 15

complete list of authors

  • Barakat, Assem O||Mostafa, Alaa||El-Sayed, Nadia B||Wade, Terry L||Sweet, Stephen T

publication date

  • April 2013