Citation:

Davis, E., T. Walker, M. Adams, R. Willis, G. Norris, AND R. Henry. Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in small craft harbor (SCH) surficial sediments in Nova Scotia, Canada. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 691:528-537, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.114

Impact/Purpose:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pollutants observed in aquatic, and atmospheric environments around the world. PAHs are considered priority pollutants as they demonstrate carcinogenic and mutagenic properties and have shown to have subsequent adverse effects on organisms in a wide range of studies. This study investigated the sources of PAHs in Nova Scotia harbor sediments using a combination of traditional PAH environmental forensics approaches and the UnmixO receptor model. Harbor sediments had the highest PAH contributions from combustion sources and historical industrial coal operations.

Description:

Multiple source apportionment approaches were employed to investigate PAH sources which contribute to small craft harbor (SCH) sediments in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada. A total of 580 sediment samples were analyzed using PAH diagnostic ratios, Unmix Optimum receptor modeling, and by assessment of the composition of the PAH profile. PAH diagnostic ratios suggest PAHs are primarily of pyrogenic (thermal) origin, while UnmixO modeling identifies four individual sources which best describe surficial sediments and suggests contributions from both pyrogenic and petrogenic origins. These include coal combustion, automobile exhaust, and biomass incineration. PAH profile assessment determined an overwhelming contribution of high molecular weight PAHs, which exhibited a strong correlation with total PAH concentrations.

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