Ecotoxicological and health risks associated with sediment-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in peri-urban closed and open coastal lagoons

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 202; p. 116351
• Main Authors: Duker, Rahmat Quaigrane, Asare, Noble Kwame, Obodai, Edward Adzesiwor, Adjei, Joseph Kweku, Acheampong, Emmanuel, Chuku, Ernest Obeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Coastal lagoon; Ecological and human health risk; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology; Environmental Monitoring; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Ghana; Humans; PAH; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Risk Assessment; Sediment quality; Urbanisation; Urbanization; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Ghana; Urbanisation; Ghana; Ecological and human health risk; Sediment quality; PAH; Coastal lagoon
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116351

Coastal urbanisation has ramifications for the sustainable development of developing nations. There are often unquantified ecological and health risks associated with urbanisation. Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in surface sediment from three peri-urban coastal lagoons in southern Ghana. We found significant spatial variations of sediment PAHs. These variations were attributed to physiography of the lagoons and diverse anthropogenic activities surrounding them. Total PAHs ranged from 20.81 to 24,801.38 μg/kg (dry weight), underscoring a low to very high pollution level. Diagnostic ratios revealed both pyrogenic and petrogenic origins. Over 50 % of individual PAHs were of moderate ecological risk to benthic organisms, and cancer risk to humans was above the World Health Organisation's recommended safety limit (1 × 10−6). These ecological and health risks should be wake-up call for a more integrated urban planning approach to coastal urbanisation as coastal communities largely depend on natural ecosystems for food and livelihood opportunities. •Sediment PAHs in peri-urban coastal lagoons in Ghana are low to very high.•Total organic carbon influenced the partitioning of PAHs in sediment.•Human activities and lagoon physiography have an impact on PAH sources.•PAHs are of moderate ecological risk to aquatic life.•Cancer risk to humans is above the WHO-recommended safety limit.