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Distribution, source finding, ecological hazard assessment, and water–sediment exchange rate of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in South Pars Industrial Zone, Iran

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Abstract

South Pars Industrial Zone is located near an Assaluyeh city on the coast of the Persian Gulf and is known as the energy capital of Iran. In this study, environmental and health effects due to PCB congeners had an assessment. In this study, 10 air stations, 10 seawater, and sediments stations were systematically selected and sampled in two seasons. Air, seawater, and sediment pollution made by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were evaluated. Seawater-sediment exchange conditions using the fugacity coefficient reviewed. PCB levels in marine sediments, seawater, and air based on the analysis of the obtained data were 107.33–172.92 ng/g, ND–135.68 ng/L, and ND–4.4 ng/m3, respectively. The highest concentration was observed in the vicinity of refineries, petrochemicals, and petroleum export facilities. These values had increased significantly compared to values of studies, conducted in similar areas. The sources were electrical wastes, storage sites, power generation units, and wastewater treatment. The ecological risk of seawater was assessed to be low to high, while sediment risks were reported with a low to moderate risk range. In 70% of the stations, the predominant transfer was from sediments to seawater; sediments were in fact the secondary source of seawater pollution. It is suggested for the area to be continuously monitored, while engineering and management measures should be adopted to improve the situation and also prevent the spread of pollution.

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Data availability

Some or all data models that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

A. Ghadrshenas acknowledges support from the Islamic Azad University, Branch Bushehr in the College of Environmental Engineering.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran

    Alireza Ghadrshenas, Tayebeh Tabatabaie, Fazel Amiri & Abdul Rahim Pazira

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  1. Alireza Ghadrshenas
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  2. Tayebeh Tabatabaie
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  3. Fazel Amiri
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  4. Abdul Rahim Pazira
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Contributions

Fazel Amiri and Tayebeh Tabatabaie: conceptualization, methodology, writing—reviewing and editing. Alireza Ghadrshenas: sample preparation and chemical analysis. Abdul Rahim Pazira: writing—reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to Fazel Amiri.

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Highlights

• Spatial distribution of PCBs in South Pars region.

• First PCBs ecologic risk assessment in South Pars Industrial Zone coastal sediment.

• The seabed acts like a sink for PCB congeners.

• Sediments act as a secondary source for PCB congeners.

• Significant increase in pollutants, especially carcinogenic congeners, was shown in the vicinity of industrial units.

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Ghadrshenas, A., Tabatabaie, T., Amiri, F. et al. Distribution, source finding, ecological hazard assessment, and water–sediment exchange rate of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in South Pars Industrial Zone, Iran. Environ Monit Assess 195, 157 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10618-3

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