1. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in 55–120 μm phytoplankton.
- Author
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Albarico, Frank Paolo Jay B., Lim, Yee Cheng, Chen, Chih-Feng, Wang, Ming-Huang, Chen, Chiu-Wen, and Dong, Cheng-Di
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PHYTOPLANKTON ,MARINE phytoplankton ,CLUSTER analysis (Statistics) - Abstract
A baseline study was undertaken on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in phytoplankton. Plankton samples from six stations (duplicates) in Kaohsiung Harbor (KH), Taiwan along with a phytoplankton control sample afar from the harbor, were collected. We applied size-fractionation to isolate phytoplankton (55–120 μm), followed by sedimentation and centrifugation to remove abiogenic particulates. The phytoplankton was freeze-dried, extracted with acetone: n -hexane (1:1, v/v), and analyzed using GC–MS. ΣPAHs in phytoplankton ranged between 5204 and 28,903 ng/g dry weight (mean: 12,150 ng/g). The ΣPAHs in KH were >7 times than the control site (C1: 3972 ng/g). Cluster analysis showed spatial gradients (northern < southern KH). Accumulated PAHs in phytoplankton were from petrogenic (fishing ports and ships) and pyrogenic (river outflows), dominated by lower-ring PAHs, likely due to their higher bioavailability in the dissolved phase. We present a practical phytoplankton isolation technique for more accurate phytoplankton PAH concentrations with insights into their distribution and sources. [Display omitted] • First report on PAHs in size-fractionated marine harbor phytoplankton • Use of simple pre-treatment to isolate and study PAHs in phytoplankton • PAHs accumulated in phytoplankton are from pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. • Fishing ports and rivers are major PAH sources in phytoplankton from study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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