Baseline polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface sediments were measured in Gorgan Bay, Iran. Total PAHs, TPH, and OCPs concentrations ranged between 13.70 and 23.68 ng g-1, 2.97 to 11.51 μg g-1 dry weight, and below detection to 1.41 ng g-1, respectively. Benzo [k] fluoranthene and anthracene had the highest (BkF; 19.77 ± 0.08 ng g-1), and lowest (Ant; 4.38 ± 1.72 ng g-1) individual PAH concentrations, respectively. The most abundant OCPs were β-Endosulfan, followed by methoxychlor and endrin. PAH isomeric ratios in sediments revealed that contamination originated from mixed sources, with a strong indication of pyrogenic sources. Ecological risk assessments based on sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) suggested that individual PAHs and OCPs posed low ecological risks in Gorgan Bay.
Keywords: Ecological risk assessment; Gorgan Bay; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs).
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