Environmental carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): concentrations, sources and hazard effects

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitrated derivatives are common contaminants that are difficult to be biodegraded in the environment. Many of these compounds are highly carcinogenic and/or endocrine disrupting at relatively low levels. This report presents the profile of PAHs and selected nitrated derivatives NPAHs such as 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) and 6-nitrocrysene (6-NC) and their major contributors (sources) in air and water environment (first time to discuss NPAHs not only in Egypt but in all Africa environment). Eighteen grape water samples were collected from 3 different sites along the River Nile from North to south in winter season. Beside, fourteen air samples were collected from two different (traffic and industrial) sites. These sites were selected to represent the different parts with the different activities and the distribution levels of PAHs and their nitrated derivatives in Egypt environment. The concentrations of fifteen PAHs having two to six rings were determined by using HPLC with florescence detection, while the concentrations of two NPAHs, 1-NP and 6-NC, were determined using HPLC with chemilumencence detection. The investigated concentration values of total average PAHs and NPAHs in River Nile water samples the PAHs and NPAHs concentration values in winter season were ranged from 1.2 to 3.5 µg/l and from 4.7 to 11.3 ng/l, respectively. While in the atmospheric samples in winter season were ranged from 42.9 to 71.2 Pmol/m3 and from 52.0 to 64.2 fmol/ m3 respectively.