Author(s)

Fikrat M. Hassan¹, Jasim M. Salman², Ali A. Dou Abul^3*, Atheer S. Naji⁴

¹College of Science for Woman, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
²College of Science, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq.
³Marin Science Center, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.
⁴College of Ecology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon, Iraq.

Phragmites australis, Potamogeton pectinatus, Potamogeton perfoliatus and Ceratophyllum demersum were selected to study concentrations of PAHs in lotic ecosystems. Six sampling sites were selected along Al-Hilla River and sampling was conducted in 2010 and 2011. Sixteen PAHs listed as priority pollutants were detected in the samples collected, including Naphthalene (Nap), Acenaphthylene (Acpy), Acenaphthene (Acp), Fluorene (Flu), Phenanthrene (Phen), Anthracene (Ant), Fluoranthene (Flur), Pyrene (Py), Benzo (a) Anthracene (B(a)A), Chrysene (Chry), Benzo (b) Fluoranthene (B(b)F), Benzo (k) Fluoranthene (B(k)F), Benzo (a) Pyrene (B(a)P), Dibenzo (a, h) Anthracene (D(b)A), Benzo (ghi) Perylene (B(ghi)P) and Indeno (1,2,3-cd) Pyrene (Ind). The results of the study illustrate that the PAH concentration in macrophytes varies among their species. These variances were as follows: P. australis 0.425 to 299.424 μg/g dry weight (Dw) for B(ghi)P and B(b)F, respectively; P. perfoliatus 0.354 to 235.84 μg/g Dw for B(b)F and B(ghi)P, respectively; C. demersum 0.996 to 162.942 μg/g Dw for Ant and B(ghi)P, respectively; and P. pectinatus 0.383 to 99.87 μg/g Dw for Ant and Nap, respectively. The accumulation potential of PAHs was also investigated by calculating the Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Bio-sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF). The ranges of BCF ratios were 0.05 to 5334.5, 0.08 to 1602.5, 0.01 to 536.6, 0.16 to 1882 in P. australis, P. perfoliatus, P. pectinatus and C. demersum, respectively. The range of BSAF ratios were 3.14 to 1041.6 and 1.5 to 2920.8 in P. australis and P. perfoliatus, respectively.

PAH, Macrophytes, Lotic Ecosystems, Al-Hilla River, Pollution, PAH Origin

Hassan, F. , Salman, J. , Abul, A. and Naji, A. (2016) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) Concentrations in Some Aquatic Macrophytes in Hilla River, Iraq. Journal of Environmental Protection, 7, 198-211. doi: 10.4236/jep.2016.72018.