Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wild marine organisms from South China Sea: Occurrence, sources, and human health implications

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 117; no. 1-2; pp. 507 - 511
• Main Authors: Ke, Chang-Liang, Gu, Yang-Guang, Liu, Qi, Li, Liu-Dong, Huang, Hong-Hui, Cai, Nan, Sun, Zhi-Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.04.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Organisms; China; Environmental Monitoring; Geologic Sediments; Health risk; Humans; Marine wild organisms; PAHs; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Seafood; South China Sea; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; South China Sea; PAHs; Marine wild organisms; Health risk
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.018

Concentrations of 16 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in 15 marine wild organism species from South China Sea. The concentration (dry weight) of 16 PAHs ranged from 94.88 to 557.87ng/g, with a mean of 289.86ng/g. The concentrations of BaP in marine species were no detectable. The composition of PAHs was characterized by the 2- and 3-ring PAHs in marine species, and NA, PHE and FA were the dominant constituents. PAHs isomeric ratios indicated PAHs mainly originated from grass, wood and coal combustion, and petroleum. The human health risk assessment based on the excess cancer risk (ECR) suggested the probability of PAHs posing carcinogenic risk to human beings with consumption of marine organisms were negligible (probability<1×10−6). •PAHs in wild marine organisms from the South China Sea were investigated.•The composition of PAHs was characterized by low molecular weight PAHs in marine species.•Concentrations of BaP in marine species were no detectable.•The lifetime excess cancer risk via fish consumption was much less than the acceptable level (10−6).