Some Pollutants (PAHs and OPPs) in Caspian Sea Coast-Iran

Abstract

PAHs form one of the most important classes of persistent pollutants. Sediment samples were taken from the eastern Caspian Sea coast of Mazandaran state analyzed by (GC-MS) for PAHs. Sediment samples were collected from eastern part of southern Caspian Sea in Mazandaran Province. Stations were Amirabad (10), Sari (5), Babolsar (5) and Noushahr (5) to determinate distribution and to source of PAHS. We analyzed 8 PAHs such as Benz [a] anthracene, Benz [a] pyrene, Fluoranthene, pyrene, Chrysene, Benz [e] pyrene, Benz [k] Fluoranthene and Benzo [ghi] perylene in this research.Result of this study showed that Concentrations of all PAHs except Pyr, B (a) A and B (a) P in Amirabad are below the concentration to elicit toxic effects in benthic organisms (Effects Range-Low). There was high spatial variability in the PAH concentrations that ranged from 12-453 ng g^-1. To elucidate sources, two molecular indices (Pyr/Fluo, BaA/(BaA + Chr) ratios were used to determine the pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. Amirabad-Behshahr region receives input primarily from oil activity; therefore, it can be inferred that the main source of PAH could be petrogenic (Pyr/Fluo = 1.07). The PAH source in Sari is pyrogenic for Neka power plant that uses fossil fuels (BaA (BaA + Chr) = 0.38). Water samples were collected from 20 wells during a period of 1 year. The average Concentrations of diazinon, chlorpyrfos, ethion and edifenphos in the ground waters were 0.018, 0.017, 0.014 and 0.013 µg^-1, respectively. This research found that the residues of pesticides are major threat to aquatic life of the regional ecosystems.