Baseline distributions and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in reef-associated sediments of Vembar group of Islands, Gulf of Mannar, India

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the source and concentration of PAH fractions in the reef sediments of the Vembar group of Islands, Gulf of Mannar, India. The concentration of PAHs ranged from 0.36 to 15.98 ng/g. The reef environment was less contaminated with low-molecular-weight PAH fractions. The accumulation of the LMW-PAH fraction was very less, whereas the HMW fraction was derived from pyrolytic sources. The level of low and high molecular weight PAHs was lower than the level of Effective Range Median (ERM) and Effective Range Low (ERL).The calculated total TEQ value ranged from ND to 10.24 ng/g in the reef sediments.

Keywords: Low and high molecular weight PAHs; Reef sediments, Vembar group of islands, Gulf of Mannar; Total toxic equivalent.