Vertical distribution, composition profiles, sources and toxicity assessment of PAH residues in the reclaimedmudflat sediments fromthe adjacent Thane Creek of Mumbai

Abstract

A study on vertical distribution of magnetic susceptibility, carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting PAHs was performed in the reclaimed mudflat sediments adjacent to the Thane Creek of Mumbai. The 5-rings PAHs and ΣCPAHsweremore dominant at 120 cmdepth contributing 52.23% and 60.19% respectively toΣPAHs. The average ratio values of LMW/HMW PAHs (0.58); Fla/(Fla + Pyr) (0.50); Ant/(Ant + Phe) (0.50); BaA/(Chry + BaA) (0.48); BaP/BghiP (2.06), Phe/Ant (1.03) and BaA/Chr (0.93) indicate that the PAH contamination might have raised due to inefficient combustion and pyrogenic emissions during the open burning of solidwaste in the vicinity. This was further supported by the anthropogenic ferri(o)magnetic loading over the last 100 years influencing the Creek sediments. The PAHs toxicity estimation was performed by calculating the toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) value of 8.62 ng TEQ/g which was below the safe level (600 ng TEQ/g) suggested by the Canadian riskbased soil criterion for protection of human health.