Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, water pollutants

Zhou, J.L., Maskaoui, K., 2003. Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and surface sediments from Daya Bay, China. Environ. Pollut. 121(2), 269-281. 

Witt, G., 1995. Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediments of the Baltic Sea. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 31, 237-248. 

Because of the large scale dilution of contaminants in the aquatic matrices, concentrations of many organic pollutants are below the detection limits of standard analytical and sampling methods. Thus, gas chromatography with specific detection methods such as electron capture detector and HPLC has been frequently used for analysis of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and biological samples. 

Human exposure to complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) occurs through inhalation of tobacco smoke and polluted indoor or outdoor air, through ingestion of certain foods and polluted water, and by dermal contact with soots, tars, and oils CO. Methylated PAH are always components of these mixtures and in some cases, as in tobacco smoke and in emissions from certain fuel processes, their concentrations can be in the same range as some unsubstituted PAH. The estimated emission of methylated PAH from mobile sources in the U.S. in 1979 was approximately 1700 metric tons (2). The occurrence of methylated and unsubstituted PAH has been recently reviewed (1, 2). In addition to their environmental occurrence, methylated PAH are among the most important model compounds in experimental carcinogenesis. 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, one of... 

Leoni [366] observed that in the extraction preconcentration of organochlo-rine insecticides and PCB s from surface and coastal waters in the presence of other pollutants such as oil, surface active substances, etc., the results obtained with an absorption column of Tenax-Celite are equivalent to those obtained with the continuous liquid-liquid extraction technique. For non-saline waters that contain solids in suspension that absorb pesticides, it may be necessary to filter the water before extraction with Tenax and then to extract the suspended solids separately. Analyses of river and estuarine sea waters, filtered before extraction, showed the effectiveness of Tenax, and the extracts obtained for pesticide analysis prove to be much less contaminated by interfering substances than corresponding extracts obtained by the liquid-liquid technique. Leoni et al. [365] showed that for the extraction of organic micro pollutants such as pesticides and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons from waters, the recoveries of these substances from unpolluted waters (mineral and potable waters) when added at the level of 1 xg/l averaged 90%. 

Consequently, Europe has historically been a hotspot of environmental pressures because of the contamination caused by agricultural, municipal, and industrial activities and high population densities [5, 6], Such contamination has led to poor water quality in many European river basins [7-12], In addition, this pollution can cause the accumulation in river sediments of toxic compounds such as pesticides [13], surfactants [14], and alkyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [15], These can in turn act as a source to biota [16] and as a potential risk for entire ecosystems [17] if the compounds bioaccumulate, and thereby enter the food chain [18],... 

Heit, M. 1985. The relationship of a coal fired power plant to the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the sediment of Cayuga Lake. Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 24 41-61. 

Law, R.J. and J.A. Whinnett. 1992. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in muscle tissue of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from UK waters. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 24 550-553. 

Richardson, B.J. Zheng, G.J. Tse, E.S.C. De Luca-Abbott, S.B. Siu, S.Y.M, Lam, P.K.S. 2003, A comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and petroleum hydrocarbon uptake by mussels (Pema viridis) and semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) in Hong Kong Coastal Waters. Environ. Pollut. 122 223-227. 

Utvik, T.I.R. Durell, G.S. Johnsen, S. 1999, Deteimining produced water originating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in North Sea waters Comparison of sampling techniques. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 38 977-989. 

Baek, S. O., R. A. Field, M. E. Goldstone, P. W. Kirk, J. N. Lester, and R. Perry, A Review of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Sources, Fate, and Behavior, Water, Air, Soil Pollut., 60, 279-300 (1991a). 

Gardner, W. S., Lee, R. F., Tenore, K. R. Smith, L. W. (1979). Degradation of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments importance of microbes and polychaete worms. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 11, 339—47. 

Liu, Z., Laha, S. Luthy, R. G. (1990). Surfactant solubilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil-water suspensions. Presented at the 15th Biennial International Conference sponsored by the International Association on Water Pollution Research and Control, Kyoto, Japan. 

Heit M, Tan Y, Klusek C, et al. 1981. Anthropogenic trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in sediment cores from two lakes in the Adirondack acid lake region. Water Air Soil Pollut 15 441-464. 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and widespread environmental contaminants, some of which may exhibit toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic effects Because of their low water solubility and hydrophobic nature, PAHs are partitioned... 

Baek, S.O., Field, R.A., Goldstone, M.E., Kirk, P.W., Lester, J.N., Perry, R., 1991. A review of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Source, fate and behavior. Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 60, 279-300. 

Luo, X.J., Mai, B.X., Yang, Q.S., Fu, J.M., Sheng, G.Y., Wang, Z.S., 2004. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides in water columns from the Pearl River and the Macao harbor in the Pearl River Delta in South China. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 48(11-12), 1102-1115. 

Zheng, M., Fang, M., 2000. Particle-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere of Hong Kong. Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 117(1/4), 175-189. 

Leung, C.C.M., Jefferson, T.A., Hung, S.K., Zheng, G.J., Yeung, L.W.Y.Y., Richardson, B.J., Lam, P.K.S., 2005. Petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated byphenyls in tissues of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins from south China waters. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 50, 1713-1744. 

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