Validation of an analytical technique, distribution, and risk assessment of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of the coastal and selected estuaries of Sarawak
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Arabian Journal of Geosciences
Abstract
This study explains a validation of an analytical technique, monitoring, and risk evaluation of hydrocarbons in surface sediments
of the coastal and selected estuaries of Sarawak, Malaysia. The performance of an analytical methodology was validated for the
evaluation of hydrocarbons in coastal and estuaries sediment samples. After the clean-up and separation process, GC-FID and
GC-MS were used to quantify aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon extracts, respectively. The suggested methodology
is able to measure aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in samples at lower concentrations for example 10 ng/g. The
precision of the technique was satisfactory as compared to 15% for most of the analytes. This method gives information
concerning the distribution and characteristics of hydrocarbon contaminants in the coastal environment. In regard to monitoring
and risk assessment, total n-alkane concentrations (C10–C33) varied from 96.63 to 367.28 ng/g dw. The lowest and highest nalkane
content is observed at Santubong estuary (CZ10) and the coastal site CZ2, respectively. Simultaneously, the contents of
ΣPAHs varied from 12.54 to 21.20 ng/g dw. The highest ΣPAH content is reported in the sediments of coastal site CZ8 (21.20
ng/g dw), whereas the lowest content is recorded in the sediments of coastal site CZ3 (12.54 ng/g dw). The outcome of the risk
assessment suggested that there is no risk in all the studied locations. The findings from this study will help to understand the
sources and possible risks of hydrocarbons in the coastal and estuary settings, and provide information for safeguarding human
health and aquatic bodies in the studied area.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Validation, Sediments, Petroleum hydrocarbons, Toxic equivalency factor, BaP equivalent