Source and Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Surface Sediment from Chalong Bay, Phuket, Thailand

This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution and apportionment of potential sources 16 US-EPA priority PAHs in surface sediments Chalong Bay, Phuket, Thailand. A total 28 sediment samples were collected from areas with high maritime activity subjected conventional recovery Soxhlet extraction, purified SiO2 column chromatography, quantified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Total concentration (Σ16PAHs) ranged 31.15 1696 ng g−1 dry weight, an average 198.2 ± 318.5 weight. Binary diagnostic ratios plots used distinguish between petrogenic pyrogenic sources. Most originated pyrolytic PCA analysis explained 82.3 % variance only 4 predominant components. The first principal component (PC1) (26.7 %) was mainly contributed urban street runoff municipal wastewater discharge. PC2 (25.8 represented vehicular combustion sources, PC3 (19.1 attributed PC4 (10.7 associated Naphthalene. distributed around Bay included oil spills, fossil fuels shipping, runoff, Each type affected different locations along shores Bay.