Ecological and human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Tigris river near the oil refineries in Iraq

Ruqayah Ali Grmasha; Csilla Stenger-Kovács; Baydaa Abdul Hussein Bedewy; Osamah J Al-Sareji; Raed A Al-Juboori; Mónika Meiczinger; Khalid S Hashim

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115791

Ecological and human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Tigris river near the oil refineries in Iraq

Environ Res. 2023 Jun 15:227:115791. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115791. Epub 2023 Mar 28.

Authors

Ruqayah Ali Grmasha¹, Csilla Stenger-Kovács², Baydaa Abdul Hussein Bedewy³, Osamah J Al-Sareji⁴, Raed A Al-Juboori⁵, Mónika Meiczinger⁶, Khalid S Hashim⁷

Affiliations

¹ University of Pannonia, Faculty of Engineering, Center for Natural Science, Research Group of Limnology, H-8200 Veszprém, Egyetem u. 10, Hungary; Environmental Research and Studies Center, University of Babylon, Al-Hillah, Iraq. Electronic address: ruqayah.grmasha@phd.uni-pannon.hu.
² University of Pannonia, Faculty of Engineering, Center for Natural Science, Research Group of Limnology, H-8200 Veszprém, Egyetem u. 10, Hungary; ELKH-PE Limnoecology Research Group, H-8200 Veszprém, Egyetem utca 10. Hungary.
³ University of Kufa, Faculty of Physical Planning, Environmental Planning Department, Iraq.
⁴ Environmental Research and Studies Center, University of Babylon, Al-Hillah, Iraq; Sustainability Solutions Research Lab, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Egyetem Str. 10, Veszprém H, 8200, Hungary.
⁵ NYUAD Water Research Center, New York University-Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Water and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, Aalto, FI-00076, Espoo, Finland.
⁶ Sustainability Solutions Research Lab, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Egyetem Str. 10, Veszprém H, 8200, Hungary.
⁷ School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Liverpool John Moores University, UK; Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Babylon, Al-Hillah, Iraq.

PMID: 36997042
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115791

Abstract

Recent Iraqi battles against ISIS in 2014 and 2015 resulted in the destruction or severe damage to several refineries' infrastructure. This, along with other factors, has led to the release and accumulation of a wide range of hazardous chemicals into the environment, for instance, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Thus, for the first time, a comprehensive 16 PAHs measurements campaign over the course of six months near the oil refineries along the Tigris River and its estuaries was investigated. The 16 PAHs concentrations in surface water and the sediments for the following oil refineries: Baiji, Kirkuk, Al-Siniyah, Qayyarah, Al-Kasak, Daura, South Refineries Company, and Maysan were examined. The overall findings indicated that the 16 PAHs concentrations ranged from 567.8 to 3750.7 ng/L for water and 5619.2-12795.0 ng/g for sediment. Water samples in South Refineries Company recorded the highest PAH concentrations while Baiji oil refinery registered the highest PAH concentrations in the sediment samples. The percentages of high molecular weight PAH (5-6 rings) in water and sediment samples were the highest, ranging from 49.41% to 81.67% and from 39.06% to 89.39% of total PAH for water and sediment, respectively. The majority of 16 PAHs measured in water and sediment samples of the Tigris River were derived from pyrogenic sources. Based on sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), most sites showed a possible effect range with occasional biological effects of most of the PAH concentrations in all sediments' samples. The calculated incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) value was high risk with adverse health effects, including cancer.

Keywords: Oil refinery; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH); Risk assessment; Sediment; Tigris river; Water.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Geologic Sediments
Humans
Iraq
Neoplasms*
Oil and Gas Industry
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Risk Assessment
Rivers / chemistry
Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Water