Abstract:
A study on vertical distribution of magnetic susceptibility, carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting PAHs was performed
in the reclaimed mudflat sediments adjacent to the Thane Creek of Mumbai. The 5-rings PAHs and ΣCPAHsweremore
dominant at 120 cmdepth contributing 52.23% and 60.19% respectively toΣPAHs. The average
ratio values of LMW/HMW PAHs (0.58); Fla/(Fla + Pyr) (0.50); Ant/(Ant + Phe) (0.50); BaA/(Chry + BaA)
(0.48); BaP/BghiP (2.06), Phe/Ant (1.03) and BaA/Chr (0.93) indicate that the PAH contamination might have
raised due to inefficient combustion and pyrogenic emissions during the open burning of solidwaste in the vicinity.
This was further supported by the anthropogenic ferri(o)magnetic loading over the last 100 years influencing
the Creek sediments. The PAHs toxicity estimation was performed by calculating the toxic equivalent quantity
(TEQ) value of 8.62 ng TEQ/g which was below the safe level (600 ng TEQ/g) suggested by the Canadian riskbased
soil criterion for protection of human health.
