Occurrence, sources and water column distribution trends of suspended particle-associated aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the open northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Constantine Parinos; Ester Skylaki; Ioannis Hatzianestis; Alexandra Gogou

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169685

Occurrence, sources and water column distribution trends of suspended particle-associated aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the open northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Mar 1:914:169685. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169685. Epub 2024 Jan 2.

Authors

Constantine Parinos¹, Ester Skylaki², Ioannis Hatzianestis³, Alexandra Gogou³

Affiliations

¹ Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 46.7 Km Athens-Sounio av., Mavro Lithari, 19013 Anavyssos, Attiki, Greece. Electronic address: ksparinos@hcmr.gr.
² Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 46.7 Km Athens-Sounio av., Mavro Lithari, 19013 Anavyssos, Attiki, Greece; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, University Campus, Zografou, 15784 Athens, Greece.
³ Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 46.7 Km Athens-Sounio av., Mavro Lithari, 19013 Anavyssos, Attiki, Greece.

PMID: 38176567
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169685

Abstract

Herein, we study the occurrence and water column distribution trends of suspended particle-associated aliphatic (AHCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) collected from 36 offshore/deep sea locations across the open northeastern Mediterranean Sea. Total concentrations of the determined compounds fall within the range previously reported for non-polluted coastal and open sea locations worldwide. Mixed natural and anthropogenic sources were evident for the studied compounds, based on their molecular profile and several diagnostic indices. In all cases, an enhanced fossil signal typifying chronic oil pollution was evident along the water column. AHCs and PAHs mixtures characteristics varied significantly within the studied sub-regions, highlighting the importance of inputs from various point sources and dispersion pathways. The circulation characteristics of water masses along with biogeochemical features impact on the water column distribution trends and overall fate of the determined compounds in the study area.

Keywords: Aliphatic hydrocarbons; Cretan Sea; Levantine basin; North Aegean Sea; PAH; Suspended particles.