Ecotoxicological and health risks associated with sediment-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in peri-urban closed and open coastal lagoons

Rahmat Quaigrane Duker; Noble Kwame Asare; Edward Adzesiwor Obodai; Joseph Kweku Adjei; Emmanuel Acheampong; Ernest Obeng Chuku

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116351

Ecotoxicological and health risks associated with sediment-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in peri-urban closed and open coastal lagoons

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 May:202:116351. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116351. Epub 2024 Apr 18.

Authors

Rahmat Quaigrane Duker¹, Noble Kwame Asare², Edward Adzesiwor Obodai³, Joseph Kweku Adjei⁴, Emmanuel Acheampong², Ernest Obeng Chuku⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana. Electronic address: rqduker@uesd.edu.gh.
² Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Centre for Coastal Management, Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
³ Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
⁵ Centre for Coastal Management, Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.

PMID: 38640765
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116351

Abstract

Coastal urbanisation has ramifications for the sustainable development of developing nations. There are often unquantified ecological and health risks associated with urbanisation. Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in surface sediment from three peri-urban coastal lagoons in southern Ghana. We found significant spatial variations of sediment PAHs. These variations were attributed to physiography of the lagoons and diverse anthropogenic activities surrounding them. Total PAHs ranged from 20.81 to 24,801.38 μg/kg (dry weight), underscoring a low to very high pollution level. Diagnostic ratios revealed both pyrogenic and petrogenic origins. Over 50 % of individual PAHs were of moderate ecological risk to benthic organisms, and cancer risk to humans was above the World Health Organisation's recommended safety limit (1 × 10^-6). These ecological and health risks should be wake-up call for a more integrated urban planning approach to coastal urbanisation as coastal communities largely depend on natural ecosystems for food and livelihood opportunities.

Keywords: Coastal lagoon; Ecological and human health risk; Ghana; PAH; Sediment quality; Urbanisation.

MeSH terms

Ecosystem
Ecotoxicology
Environmental Monitoring*
Geologic Sediments* / chemistry
Ghana
Humans
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Risk Assessment
Urbanization
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Water Pollutants, Chemical