Identification of PAHs Sources in Bivalves and Sediments 5 Years After the Sea Prince Oil Spill in Korea

On 23 July 1995, the oil tanker Sea Prince ran aground near Sori Island, off the South Coast of Korea and spilled 5040 tons of crude and fuel oil into the marine environment. The effects of the Sea Prince oil spill on the marine environment have been investigated since 1996. The main objectives of this study were to find out the residual effects of beached oil and transport of dispersed oil into the subtidal area. Twenty-four PAHs were analyzed and principal component analysis was performed to elucidate weathering status, bioaccumulation pattern, and input sources. There were signs of bioconcentration of oil-derived PAHs in mussels of stranded oil remained sites. However, environmental factors overwhelmed these so that all the bivalves studied showed similar pattern in the last two sampling campaigns. There was no significant evidence of transport of oil-derived PAHs into the subtidal environment. However, one station showed an exceptionally high concentration (923 ng/g dry weight), which implies the limited input of particle-bound PAHs into this confined area.     

Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of the Bohai Sea, China

A total of 112 surface sediment samples covering virtually the entire Bohai Sea were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in order to provide the extensive information of recent occurrence levels, distribution, possible sources, and potential biological risk of these compounds in this area. Surface sediment samples were collected from the Bohai Sea using a stainless steel grab sampler. Sixteen PAHs were determined by a Finnigan TRACE DSQ gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Diagnostic ratios, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) with multivariate linear regression (MLR) were performed to identify and quantitatively apportion the major sources of sedimentary PAHs in the Bohai Sea. Concentrations of total PAHs in the Bohai Sea ranged widely from 97.2 to 300.7 ng/g (mean, 175.7?±?37.3 ng/g). High concentrations of PAHs were found in the vicinity of Luan River Estuary-Qinhuangdao Harbor, Cao River Estuary-Bohai Sea Center, and north of the Yellow River Estuary. The three-ring PAHs were most abundant, accounting for about 37?±?5 % of total PAHs. The four-ring and five-ring PAHs were the next dominant ones comprising approximately 29?±?7and 23?±?3 % of total PAHs, respectively. Concentrations of acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene are higher than Canadian interim marine sediment quality guideline values at most of the sites in the study area. Contamination levels of PAHs in the Bohai Sea were low in comparison with other coastal sediments in China and developed countries. The distribution pattern of PAHs and source identification implied that PAH contamination in the Bohai Sea mainly originates from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. Further PCA/MLR analysis suggested that the contributions of spilled oil products (petrogenic), coal combustion, and traffic-related pollution were 39, 38, and 23 %, respectively. Pyrogenic sources (coal combustion and traffic-related pollution) contributed 61 % of anthropogenic PAHs to sediments, which indicates that energy consumption could be a dominant factor in PAH pollution in this area. Acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene are the three main species of PAHs with more ecotoxicological concern in the Bohai Sea.     

The Potential of Current- and Wind-Driven Transport for Environmental Management of the Baltic Sea

The ever increasing impact of the marine industry and transport on vulnerable sea areas puts the marine environment under exceptional pressure and calls for inspired methods for mitigating the impact of the related risks. We describe a method for preventive reduction of remote environmental risks caused by the shipping and maritime industry that are transported by surface currents and wind impact to the coasts. This method is based on characterizing systematically the damaging potential of the offshore areas in terms of potential transport to vulnerable regions of an oil spill or other pollution that has occurred in a particular area. The resulting maps of probabilities of pollution to be transported to the nearshore and the time it takes for the pollution to reach the nearshore are used to design environmentally optimized fairways for the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Proper, and south-western Baltic Sea.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in marine mussels from French coasts: levels, patterns and temporal trends from 1981 to 2005

The levels and temporal trends of toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in archived marine mussels collected between 1981 and 2005 from selected sites along French coasts. The geographical distribution and levels of PCDD/Fs generally reflect regional inputs of these contaminants: the highest concentrations were determined in samples from the Seine river estuary (English Channel) and Toulon area (Mediterranean coast); the lowest levels were determined in Corsica (Mediterranean Sea). PCDD/F isomeric composition showed a fairly homogeneous distribution pattern throughout the various sampling sites. This pattern, dominated by 2,3,7,8-TCDF and OCDD, can be considered as typical for the study species. However, on a more local scale, some differences in isomeric composition in mussels were identified in relation to local source characteristics. The time trend study showed a pronounced decrease in PCDD/F concentrations over the 24-year period at most sites, except Toulon on the Mediterranean Sea, where the decrease was not significant. This overall decrease probably reflects the general drop in PCDD/F emissions in Europe since 1980. However, high concentrations were determined in mussels collected in recent years (1999, 2001 and 2005) from the mouth of the Seine river. These concentrations are related to particular hydrological conditions, and intensive sediment dredging due to a new port construction at the mouth of the estuary. The results presented in this paper provide reference data on the contamination of shellfish by persistent organic pollutants in the marine environment.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of the South China Sea

Sixteen sediment samples, collected from the South China Sea, were analyzed for 11 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Total concentrations of the 11 PAHs studied in the sediments ranged from 24.7 to 275.4 ng/g with a mean of 145.9 ng/g dry sediment. PAH concentrations displayed a consistent distribution trend with the sediment organic carbon content. The linear regression analysis showed that the total concentration of PAHs in the sediment was significantly correlated to the sediment organic carbon content with a correlation coefficient of 0.735 (n=16). Special PAH compound ratios, such as phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene, were calculated to evaluate the relative importance of different origins. The collected data showed that pyrolytic input from anthropogenic combustion processes was predominant at almost all the stations investigated. Only one station, located in the proximity of oil wells, appeared to be contaminated predominantly by petrogenic input. Three anthropogenic PAHs, i.e. pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[e]pyrene, exhibited similar distribution patterns in the studied area, implying that these compounds possess identical sources. However, perylene did not entirely follow the distribution trend of the three PAHs, suggesting that the sediment perylene probably derived from other sources such as in situ biogenic origins. Dibenzothiophene, a sulfur heterocyclic aromatic compound, was also measured in this study.     

Genotoxic and teratogenic potential of marine sediment extracts investigated with comet assay and zebrafish test

Organic extracts of marine sediments from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea were investigated with two toxicity assays. The comet assay based on the fish cell line Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) was applied to determine the genotoxic potential; zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) were used to quantify the teratogenic potential of the samples. EC(50) values were calculated from dose-response curves for both test systems. Highest teratogenic and genotoxic effects normalised to total organic carbon (TOC) content were detected in sediment samples of different origins. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are not likely to be the causes of the observed effects, as demonstrated by a two-step fractionation procedure of selected extracts. The toxic potential was more pronounced in fractions having polarity higher than those possessed by PAHs and PCBs. The suitability of the two in vitro test systems for assessing genotoxic and teratogenic effects of marine sediment extracts could be demonstrated.     

Distribution and characteristics of PAHs in sediments from the marine environment of Korea

To assess the contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment of Korea, 117 sediment samples along the coast were collected and analyzed. This study provides perspectives on concentration ranges and on geographic distributions of PAHs. Sum of 16 PAHs concentrations are in the range of 8.80-18500 ng/g dry weight. Industrialized and urbanized region showed high level of PAHs contamination. When compared with nationwide monitoring results of USA and UK, concentration of total PAHs are in the order of UK>US>this study. Major PAHs sources inferred from diagnostic indices and statistical approach were both pyrogenic and petrogenic. In coastal and offshore sediments of Korea, 7.76% sites had a mean PAH ERL quotient >1.0, indicating the potential to cause adverse effects in sensitive species. Youngil Bay was recognized as highly contaminated with PAHs, and recommended to be managed with special plan.     

Comparative study of different exposure routes on the biotransformation and genotoxicity of PAHs in the flatfish species, Scophthalmus maximus

In this study, laboratory experiments were carried out in order to come to a better understanding of the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment and especially on their bioaccumulation, biotransformation and genotoxic effects in fish. Juveniles of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were exposed to PAHs through different routes via (1) a mixture of dissolved PAHs, (2) a PAH-polluted sediment and (3) an oil fuel elutriate. Fish were exposed 4 days followed by a 6-day depuration period. In each experiment, PAH concentrations in the seawater of the tanks were analysed regularly by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Muscle and liver samples were also analysed for parent PAH levels and PAH bioconcentration factors were calculated. Biotransformation was evaluated by measuring the levels of PAH metabolites in fish bile. Genotoxicity was assessed by the alkaline comet assay. Regardless of exposure route, the parent PAH concentrations in the liver and muscle showed a peak level 1 day after the beginning of the exposure, followed by a decrease up to the background level towards the end of the experiment, except for the exposure to dissolved PAHs for which levels were relatively low throughout the study. As a consequence, no bioaccumulation was observed in fish tissues at the end of the experiment. In contrast, regardless of exposure routes, a rapid production of biliary metabolites was observed throughout the whole exposure experiment. This was especially true for 1-hydroxypyrene, the major metabolite of pyrene. After 6 days of recovery in clean water, a significant decrease in the total metabolite concentrations occurred in bile. Fish exposed through either route displayed a significant increase in DNA strand breaks after 4 days of exposure, and significant correlations were observed between the level of biliary PAH metabolites and the level of DNA lesions in fish erythrocytes. Overall results indicate that exposure to either a mixture of dissolved PAHs, a PAH-contaminated sediment or a dispersed oil fuel elutriate leads to biotransformation and increase in DNA damage in fish. The quantification of PAH metabolites in bile and DNA damage in erythrocytes appear to be suitable for environmental monitoring of marine pollution either in the case of accidental oil spills or sediment contamination.     

Contamination of rivers in Tianjin, China by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Tianjin urban/industrial complex is highly polluted by some persistent organic pollutants. In this study, the levels of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were tested in sediment, water, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples in 10 rivers in Tianjin. The total concentration of 16 PAHs varied from 0.787 to 1943 microg/g dry weight in sediment, from 45.81 to 1272 ng/L in water, and from 0.938 to 64.2 microg/g dry weight in SPM. The levels of PAHs in these media are high in comparison with values reported from other river and marine systems. Variability of total concentrations of PAHs in sediment, water, and SPM from nine different rivers is consistent with each other. No obvious trends of total PAHs concentration variations were found between upstream and downstream sediment, water, and SPM samples for most rivers, which indicate local inputs and disturbances along these rivers. The spatial distributions of three-phase PAHs are very similar to each other, and they are also similar to those found in topsoil. However, their chemical profiles are significantly different from that of topsoil. The change of profiles is consistent with the different aqueous transport capability of 16 PAHs. Low molecular weight PAHs predomination suggests a relatively recent local source and coal combustion source of PAHs in the study area.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine organisms from the Adriatic Sea, Italy

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in bivalves (Mitylus galloprovincialis), cephalopods (Todarodes sagittatus), crustaceans (Nephrops norvegicus) and fish (Mullus barbatus, Scomber scombrus, Micromesistius poutassou, Merluccius merluccius) in several pools coming from the Central Adriatic Sea. These marine organisms were selected because of their multitude, wide distribution and common use in the Italian diet, they were sampled and analyzed during the year 2004. Acenaphthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benzo(ghi)perylene and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene showed levels below the instrumental detection limit in all samples. Fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene were detected at different concentrations in analyzed samples. Chrysene was detected only in mussels with very low values (average 0.74ngg(-1) wet weight). PAHs composition pattern was dominated by the presence of PAHs with 3-rings (62%) followed from those with 4-rings (37%) and 5-rings (1%). Atlantic mackerel, European hake and blue whiting showed the highest PAH concentrations, ranging from 44.1 to 63.3ngg(-1) wet weight, the group of invertebrate organisms showed a level of contamination about three times lower than those of the vertebrate groups. Mediterranean mussels that did not present very high levels of contamination expressed as sum of PAHs showed one of the highest values of benzo(a)pyrene equivalents (BaPEs). Conversely the latter value was very low in Atlantic mackerel even if this species reported the highest total PAH concentrations. No significant correlation was observed between weight, length and trophic levels and total PAHs.     

Interspecies and spatial trends in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Atlantic and Mediterranean pelagic seabirds

PAHs were analyzed in the liver of 5 species of pelagic seabirds (Procellariiformes) from the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The main objective was to assess the trophic and geographic trends of PAHs in seabirds to evaluate their suitability as bioindicators of chronic marine pollution by these compounds. Although higher levels of PAHs have been described in the Mediterranean compared to other oceanic regions, we did not find significant spatial patterns and observed only minor effects of the geographic origin on seabird PAHs. However, we found significant higher PAH levels in petrel compared to shearwater species, which could be related to differences in their exploitation of mesopelagic and epipelagic resources, respectively, and the vertical dynamic of PAHs in the water column. Overall, although this study enhances the need of multi-species approaches to show a more comprehensive evaluation of marine pollution, seabirds emerged as poor indicators of pelagic chronic PAH levels.     

Contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Jiulong River Estuary and Western Xiamen Sea, China

The distribution of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was determined in water, sediment and pore water of the Jiulong River Estuary and Western Xiamen Sea, China. Total PAH concentrations varied from 6.96 to 26.9 microg/l in water, 59-1177 ng/ g dry weight in surficial sediments, and 158-949 microg/l in pore water. The PAHs were present in higher levels in pore water than in surface water, due possibly to higher concentrations of dissolved organic carbon or colloids with which the hydrophobic pollutants were strongly associated. Such a concentration gradient implies a potential flux of pollutants from sediment pore water to overlying water. The levels of PAHs in water and pore water were significantly higher than those found in 1998, suggesting recent inputs of these compounds into the area and re-working of sediment phase. The composition pattern of PAHs in the three phases was dominated by high molecular weight PAHs, in particular 5-ring PAHs. The salinity profile of dissolved PAHs suggested that they all behaved non-conservatively due to deviation from the theoretical dilution line. No correlation was found between PAH concentrations in sediment and those in pore water, and the correlation between the partition coefficients of PAHs and sediment organic carbon content was not significant, suggesting the complexity of the partition behaviour of PAHs. As a result of high PAH concentrations in water and pore water, it is likely that they may have caused mortality to certain exposed organisms.     

Effects of hydrodynamics on the distribution of trace persistent organic pollutants and macrobenthic communities in Bohai Bay

In recent years, the rapid economic development along Bohai Bay, has brought out continuous increasing of the pollution loads in the Bohai Sea, especially by the large coastal reclamation project, Tianjin Binhai New Area. In the period of 2007-2009, we collected the sediments of the main rivers, estuaries, intertidal zone, and near-shore area of Bohai Bay, and Macrobenthos associated with the marine sediments to assess the influence of hydrodynamics in the coastal environment on the pattern of trace contaminants and the macrobenthic community. Based on data derived from these samples, the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments followed the order PAHs > OCPs > PCBs > PBDEs. The higher concentrations of PCBs, OCPs, PAHs and PBDEs were found in the estuarine and near-shore environment of the Dagu Drainage River. The spatial distribution of OCPs was different to that of PCBs due to the direction of the velocity field of Bohai Bay in its old and new topography, and the higher water-solubility of OCPs than that of PCBs. The results of the Pearson correlation and the PCA indicate that the medium diameter (MD) of sediments was the predominant factor influencing the distribution of PCBs and OCPs, most sampling sites were characterized mainly by TOC of sediments and biomass of macrobenthos. The results indicate that the distribution of trace contaminants and macrobenthic community in Bohai Bay are mainly affected by the hydrodynamic conditions.     

Screening of hydrophobic DNA adducts in flounder (Platichthys flesus) from the Baltic Sea

Neoplasia and other histopathological lesions in flounder (Platichthys flesus) liver have been investigated in several European sea areas, including the Baltic Sea. Several studies have been able to link neoplasm epizootics in fish with the exposure to genotoxins such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The level of hydrophobic DNA adducts in tissue DNA reflects the exposure of the organism to PAHs.Using hydrophobic DNA adduct levels as biomarkers, possible PAH exposure was assessed in flounder from 10 different sites in the Baltic Sea, collected during the years 1995–1997. The results show that the overall levels of hepatic DNA adducts were low and, in general, the chromatograms appeared clean. The highest levels of DNA adducts were found at two sites in the southern Baltic Sea. There were no statistically significant differences in adduct levels between the sites. Our results indicate that flounder from studied off shore sites of the Baltic Sea had not been exposed to a greater extent to large polycyclic hydrophobic hydrocarbons in their environment.     

A Holistic Approach to Hydrocarbon Source Allocation in the Subtidal Sediments of Prince William Sound,Alaska, Embayments

Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska has an extensive history of human and industrial activity that has produced a complex organic geochemistry record in subtidal sediments of embayments throughout the sound. In addition to contributions from recent oil spills and a regional background of natural petroleum hydrocarbons originating from active hydrocarbon systems in the northern Gulf of Alaska (GOA), pyrogenic and petrogenic PAH were, and continue to be introduced to subtidal sediments at numerous sites of past and present human activities. These sites include villages, fish hatcheries, fish camps and recreational campsites in addition to abandoned settlements, canneries, sawmills, and mines. A holistic approach is used to fingerprint and quantify hydrocarbon contributions from multiple sources in a sediment sample. It involves acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the history of the area to identify potential sources, collection of representative samples, and accurate quantitative analyses of the source and sediment samples for a suite of diagnostic PAH analytes and chemical biomarker compounds. Unlike the deepwater sediments of the sound and GOA, the TOC tool, described elsewhere, does not work as well in some restricted embayments due to their high contents of recent organic matter (ROM). The current study employs a constrained least-squares algorithm to allocate hydrocarbon sources contributing to subtidal sediments collected from PWS embayments in 1991, 1999 and 2000. Results show that sources contributing to the natural petrogenic background are present in the embayments, pyrogenic hydrocarbons including combustion products of diesel are important where human activity was high, and petroleum produced from the Monterey Formation (CA) is present locally. Oil and asphalt shipped from California were widely used for fuel and construction prior to development of the Cook Inlet and North Slope fields. In certain locations that were oiled in 1989, low levels of highly degraded Alaska North Slope crude oil residues attributable to the Exxon Valdez spill remain.     

Preliminary characterization and source assessment of PAHs in tributary sediments of the Athabasca River,Canada

The Athabasca Oil Sands are one of four natural oil sands deposits in Northern Alberta, Canada. As a number of new mines are planned in the area, there is a need to establish background levels of natural hydrocarbon release prior to these developments. To this end, various environmental samples were taken from selected tributaries in the oil sands region of the Athabasca River Basin and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated analogues. Samples were collected over 3 years (1998-2000) to provide an increased understanding of the spatial distribution, nature and extent of natural hydrocarbon release to the environment. Results indicated that levels of total PAHs were elevated in the tributaries (up to 34.7 µg/g) compared to the main stem Athabasca River (<2 µg/g). As expected, samples from the oil sands deposits contained the greatest amounts of PAHs and alkylated PAHs. Profiles of the alkylated PAM distributions were very similar, indicating that all the samples tested were from a common petrogenic source.     

2,3,7,8-Substituted PCDDs and PCDFs in sea lion (Otaria flavescens) skin biopsies from two South-western Atlantic populations

Congener specific 2,3,7,8-chlorinated PCDDs and PCDFs were determined in skin biopsies taken from sea lions (Otaria flavescens) living in two areas of the South-western Atlantic on the coast of Argentina (Mar del Plata and Punta Bermeja). This is the first report on PCDDs and PCDFs in sea lion skin biopsies from the southern hemisphere. Differences were found in the congener pattern according to the sampling area. Animals living in the polluted area (Mar del Plata harbour) had detectable levels of all seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners. Sea lions living in a control environment (Punta Bermeja, Patagonia) only exhibited 5 detectable congeners out of all seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners. However, total levels were low in both colonies studied. These data are consistent with previous work which has indicated that dioxins occur at relatively low levels in marine mammals, possibly due to rapid catabolism or elimination.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon burden in ambient air in selected Niger Delta communities in Nigeria

The Niger Delta area in Nigeria has major oil producing and refining centers that characterized enormous industrial activities, especially in the petroleum sector. These industrial processes release different kinds of atmospheric pollutants, of which there is paucity of information on their levels and health implications. The objective of this study was to determine the ambient levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in communities of a local government area (Eleme) where oil wells, petrochemical installations, a refinery, and a fertilizer complex are located. Respirable particulate matter (PM) in air were collected using Anderson high-volume sampler with PM with aerodynamic diameter > 10 microm (PM10) inlet for collecting filterable, particle-bound PAHs according to standard methods. PAHs were analyzed following standard methods for the 16 World Health Organization (WHO) prioritized components. The results were compared against the levels in another local government area (Ahoada East) with low industrial presence. The average total PAH concentration in Eleme of 9.2 microg/m3 was among the highest in the world; by contrast, the average concentration in Ahoada East was only 0.17 ng/m3. The most prominent PAHs at Eleme were those known to be carcinogenic and included benzo(a)pyrene (1.6 x 10(4) ng/m3 at bubu), benzo(k)fluoranthene (2.4 x 10(4) ng/m3 at Akpajo where a petrochemical is located), pyrene (3.1 x 10(3) ng/m3 at Ogale), and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (9.1 x 10(3) ng/m3 at Akpajo). Data from this study emphasize the need for a comprehensive source apportionment study and an assessment of the health effects of oil production on local communities of Nigeria where no such information currently exists.     

Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Atmospheric Air of Tamil Nadu,India, and Human Health Risk Assessment

This study analyzed the seasonal distribution and the possible sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmospheric environment of Tamil Nadu, India. Passive air sampling was performed at 32 locations during the period from April 2009 to January 2010, and PAHs were quantified using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Analysis showed that the concentrations of PAHs were in the range of 5–47.5 ng/m³ with uniform distribution in urban areas in all seasons. Pre-monsoon season showed the highest cumulative concentration of PAHs in both agricultural and coastal areas. Among PAHs, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene levels were found to be predominant in all the samples, contributing up to 36%, 35.5%, and 24.5% of total PAHs, respectively. The signature of the PAHs obtained through diagnostic ratio and principal component analysis revealed that diesel emissions was the probable source of PAHs in all locations. Based on Word Health Organization guidelines, the human lung cancer risk due to observed level of PAH concentration (i.e., PAHs exposure) is meager. However, the risk is predicted to be more in the coastal area during summer (18 individuals among 0.1 million people). To the knowledge of these authors, this report is the first on the seasonal analysis of PAHs using passive air sampling in India.