The Origin Determination and Identification of Perylene Entry Source and Other Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Surface Sediments of Anzali Wetland

This study was performed to determine and identify the origin, concentration and source of perylene entry and some PAH compounds in surface sediments of Ghalam Goodeh (A), Siyah Kashim (B), and Talab Markazi (C) in Anzali wetland. We collected 22 samples of sediments (from each region) and 2 samples of soils (from A region) in April of 2012. Sampling was performed from soil for proving the condition of concentration and origin of perylene in under investigating sediments. GC-MS was applied for extraction of PAH compounds using organic solvents and 2-phase column chromatography. Diagnostic ratios of Ph/An, Flu/Pyr, Flu/Flu+Pyr, BaA/BaA+Chr and IP/IP+BghiP were used to determine the origin of PAH compounds. In all sediment samples, the origin of perylene and PAH compounds were found to be natural and petrogenic, respectively. The total concentration of PAH compounds were ranged between 560.05 to 1051.93 ng/g dry weight and perylene concentration were obtained between 70.65 to 204.41 ng/g dry weight. Total concentration of PAHs and perylene was significantly more in area A compared with other two area, whereas no relationship was found between normalized values of PAHs and TOC in sediments of all areas. With respect to the petrogenic source of PAHs in the surface sediments, the main sources of the PAH compounds entry are the discharge of domestic and industrials wastewater, the port and shipping activities, the exploration, excavation and refining activities of crude oil in offshore region and transportation of fishing and tourism boat but diagnosis of natural origin of perylene in the samples of surface sediment and soil implicated that this compound can be produced in terrestrial section due to activity of termites and fungi on the woody and cellulosic materials of forest floor, decaying wood and their fossilized remains and then their discharge to the wetland.