Sources, vertical fluxes, and equivalent toxicity of aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments of the Rio de la Plata Estuary, Argentina

Settling particles and bottom sediments collected at 1, 2.5, and 4 km off the metropolitan Buenos Aires coast in the Rio de la Plata were analyzed to evaluate the sources and toxicity of resolved (PAHs) and unresolved (AROUCM) aromatic hydrocarbons. PAHs (0003-2.1 mu g g(-1)) and AROUCM (0.01 - 78 mu g g-1) presented the highest concentrations near the Buenos Aires port and sewer and decreasing values up- and downstream and along on- and offshore gradients. Sediment traps deployed in the Central area revealed large aromatic fluxes (1.3 +/- 1.5 and 31 +/- 47 mg m(-2) day(-1) for PAHs and AROUCM). The composition of sedimentary PAHs was dominated by uniformly distributed high molecular weight pyrogenic PAHs (53 +/- 11% fluoranthene, pyrene, and heavier PAHs), followed by diagenetically derived perylene more abundant in less polluted sites (29 +/- 15%) and lower molecular weight petrogenic PAHs (18 +/- 7.1% phenanthrene, anthracene, and methylated compounds), which covaried inversely with perylene. PAH diagnostic ratios indicated a stronger influence of petrogenic discharges close to the shore and the prevalence of combustion of fossil fuels and vehicle emissions over wood in offshore sediments. Sediment cores showed sustained hydrocarbon levels with decreasing proportion of petrogenic PAHs and relative enrichment of pyrogenic components and perylene down to 20-cm depth. PAH toxicity assessment by sediment quality guidelines (SGG) and dioxin-equivalent factors (PAH TEQ: 0.08-395 pg g(-1) dw) identified 1 - 2.5 km sediments close to the port and sewer as the most affected area. According to SQG, dibenz[a,h]anthracene and pyrene were the most critical PAHs, followed by benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, and chrysene. In contrast, PAH THIS were dominated by indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, perylene, and benz[a]anthracene which accounted for an average 86 +/- 5.7% of total TEQs.