Sediment-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and potential eco-hazards in Chabahar Bay, Iran

The surface sediments (0-4 cm, n = 6) from Chabahar Bay were analyzed to assess the concentrations, composition, and potential eco-hazards of associated PAHs. The range of Sigma 16 PAHs' concentration was 25.75-312.38 ng g(-1) dw, with mean and median levels of 126.7 and 55.12 ng g(-1) dw, respectively. The bay was classified as a region with low to moderate PAH pollution. The sources of PAHs varied, and 2-3-ring compounds were dominant (37-90%). There was no significant correlation between TOC/grain size and levels of PAHs. Total carcinogenic PAHs ranged from 0.21 to 79.68 ng g(-1) dw, and benzo(a)pyrene was the main constituent of calculated toxic equivalencies. The bay sediments were rarely hazardous and could not address narcotic hazards for the benthic community. Biota-sediment accumulation was not predicted for the examined coral Acropora valida. In equilibrium conditions, release of Sigma 16PAHs from the bay sediments was estimated to be 0.536 mu g L(-1 )at its maximum.