A study on PAHs contamination level in fish at Kerteh River, Terengganu

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (P AHs) have been study widely due to its carcinogenic and mutagenic characteristic. The 16 target P AHs compounds were listed by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as priority pollutants which are: acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzene(a)anthracene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(b )fluoranthene, Benzo(ghi)perylene, Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Chyrysene, Dibeno( a,h )anthracene, Fluoranthene, Fluorene, Indenol( 1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, Naphthalene, Phenanthrene and Pyrene. The objectives of this study were to determine the seafood (selected) exposure and contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbon and to monitor the hazardous properties and risk of contaminating level of petroleum hydrocarbon in seafood at Kerteh River Estuary. Sampling trips was conducted during April 2010 and October 2010 at Kerteh, Terengganu. Method for this project has 3 stages, saponification extraction process, packed column separation and gas chromatography analysis. Saponification extraction was used to extract hydrocarbons from fish samples respectively. The saponification methods of hydrocarbon extraction in fish were followed the method of Okay (1999). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were separating using the Normal Phase Column Chromatography. The hydrocarbons compounds were identify and quantify using Gas Chromatography- Flame Ionizer Detector (GC-FID). Based on the BaP equivalent, Arius Macrulatus, Euristhmus microceps, Toxotes jaculator, Epinephelus coioides and Mega/ops cyprinoides are safe for human consumption exceeding 16 meals per months.However, Lutjanus argrntimacu/atus are not encourage to be consume exceeding 16 meals per months because the value of BaP(eqv) is 0.41 ng.g-1 recommended quantity which is 16 meals per months Based on 227 g fish/day for a person 70 kg (binelli and Provini, 2004).