Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fingerprints in the Pichavaram mangrove–estuarine sediments, southeastern India

The sources and historical deposition of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in dated sediment cores from the Pichavaram mangrove–estuarine complex. The ΣPAH flux in mangrove and estuarine sediments was 0.064 ± 0.031 μg/cm2/yr and 0.043 ± 0.020 μg/cm2/yr, respectively. The PAH flux in sediments increased up-core, coinciding with rapid urbanization since the 1970s. The flux showed a decrease in recent years (since 1990), coinciding with less riverine discharge, and perhaps more effective implementation of environmental regulations. The sediments were dominated by low molecular weight PAHs, suggesting anthropogenic input. Ratios of specific PAH isomer pairs suggested a greater input of petrogenic vs. pyrogenic derived PAHs. Notably, the deposition of high molecular weight PAHs increase in mangrove surface sediments was due to lignite and firewood combustion. Because of their overall low concentration in sediments it is unlikely these PAHs pose an immediate ecological hazard.