Health Risk Assessment and Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon from the Hydrosphere

The prime purpose of this study was to determine the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the water zone. A total of 15 PAHs were measured in 22 surface water samples and 22 sediment samples. The samples were collected from four water bodies and five soil samples, out of which four samples were collected from near the four water bodies' bank in Jamshedpur, and one was collected from near a highway. The total concentration of PAHs in water, sediment, and soil range from 25.2 to 310.4 ng/L, from 19 to 291.7 ng/g, and from 106.8 to 240.1 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The composition pattern of PAHs in the surface water, sediment, and soil samples of four water bodies were studied and the results show that the Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers were more contaminated with PAHs when compared with a lake. In almost all samples the low molecular weight Naphthalene and high molecular weight Pyrene were dominant in concentration. The toxic equivalent quotient and mutagenic equivalent quotient values were dominated by the carcinogenic PAH Benzo(a)Pyrene and the calculated values of the incremental lifetime cancer risk were found under the guideline values. The Diagnostic ratios and Principal Component Analysis for source analysis suggested combustion and petrogenic as the main PAHs source inside the city. Jamshedpur being a fast-growing city and its huge amount of vehicular emissions may be the main origin of PAHs sources. (c) 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water bodies in India, finding that the Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers were more contaminated with PAHs. The dominant PAHs in the samples were low molecular weight Naphthalene and high molecular weight Pyrene. The study suggests that combustion and petrogenic sources within the city may be the main origins of PAHs in the area.