Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of the Straits of Malacca

The individual compounds and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) were studied in the surface sediments at 29 sampling sites in the Straits of Malacca along the areas of Umbai, Bandar Melaka, Tanjung Keling, and Sungai Udang during South West Monsoon on 8th July 2013. A total of 16 PAHs were determined and quantified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total PAH concentrations in the surface sediments detected from this study ranged from 8.07 ng/g to 390.03 ng/g with the average of 133.5 ng/g. All sampling stations were dominated by the range of low molecular weight PAHs (3-ring), 44% and 28% from high molecular weight PAHs (4 -ring). The sources of PAHs were analyzed by employing diagnostic ratios (DR) of specific PAH compounds. The ratios in this study showed mixture of petrogenic and pyrogenic PAHs sources with a dominance of pyrogenic sources