(54a) Environmental Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Polluted Coastal Cities

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) is considered as one of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment. PAHs are anthropogenic source to all marine environments (air, water, sediment and biota). They are available from burned out material such coal, wood, or even food as well as incomplete combustion from oil and gases industry. PAHs are characterized by high toxicity, hydrophobicity and lipophilicity. moreover, they are easy to transfer and bio-accumulated in the living organisms. PAHs are easy to transfer due to the semi-volatility character; that is why they are exchanges between different matrices (air, water, sediment).