Impact of different land uses on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in coastal stream sediments

PAHs are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that can cause adverse health and ecological effects. In the present study, we examined the impact of land use on the concentration and composition of PAHs in 28 coastal stream sediments on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. In densely populated urban areas, the concentration range of total PAHs in the stream sediments affected by mixed residential and industrial activities (RI) are 0.40–9.05 ppm, which is significantly higher than the 0.36–4.21 ppm detected in the stream sediments affected predominantly by urban residential land uses (UR). The stream sediments affected by agricultural activities (AG) reported a concentration range of 0.09–2.14 ppm, which is lower than those of the RI and UR stream sediments. The molecular weight of PAH is a factor, as only high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs were significantly affected by land uses (ANOVA P = 0.009). Correlation analysis showed that only in the UR stream sediments were significant correlations observed between PAH concentration and two anthropogenic indicators: population density (r = 0.57, P = 0.027) and vehicle density (r = 0.55, P = 0.034). The fractional concentrations of PAHs were analyzed by using PCA analysis, which led to the separate clustering of the RI and AG stream sediments and suggest distinct PAH sources between the two land uses. Two PAH source indicators, including Ant/(Ant + Phe) and Fl/(Fl + Py), indicates that PAHs sources in the RI stream sediments are most likely of petroleum origin, while PAHs in the UR and AG stream sediments most likely came from combustion activities. In addition, the concentration and relative potency of carcinogenic PAHs in the coastal stream sediments exhibited similar patterns as the total PAH concentration with respect to land uses.

► PAH contamination in coastal stream sediments is strongly affected by land use.
► Stream sediments affected by industrial activities contained high levels of PAHs.
► Total PAH concentrations in stream sediments were significantly correlated to population density and vehicle density only in streams affected by residential land uses.
► PAHs and anthropogenic indicators correlated in urban residential stream sediments.
► Distinct PAH sources in stream sediments affected by industrial and agricultural activities.
► Carcinogenic PAHs exhibited similar patterns as total PAHs with respect to land uses.