IDENTIFICATION SOURCES OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs) IN SEDIMENTS FROM THE STRAITS OF MALACCA

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic pollutants normally found in the marine environment. In the long-term, the PAHs may cause adverse effects to the aquatic life and humans through the food chain. In this study, marine sediment samples were collected from 10 locations along the Straits of Malacca. The PAHs in sediment samples were Soxhlet-extracted into a 1: 1 (v/v) mixture of hexane/dichloromethane (DCM). The extract was then passed through a silica/alumina column and eluted with a mixture of hexane-DCM (20:80), and the fraction was reduced in volume under nitrogen gas flow. For quantification of PAH concentrations, the concentrated extract was injected into a GC-MS system. The Sigma PAHs in sediment from the Straits coastal area ranged between 209.8-611.0 ng/g dry weight. The origin sources of PAHs were identified by comparing the various PAH ratios, such as anthracene to anthracene plus phenanthrene, fluoranthene to fluoranthene plus pyrene, benz[a]anthracene to benz[a]anthracene plus chrysene, and Sigma(Low Molecular Weight) to Sigma(High Molecular Weight). Generally, it was implied that the major PAH pollution sources in the Straits of Malacca are that of fossil fuel combustion (pyrolytic).