APRESENTATION

BY ELEGBELEYE OLADIPO AYODAMOPE

&CHARLES BAIDOO ESHUN

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

 

OUTLINE

• OBJECTIVE

• INTRODUCTION

• SOURCES, USES AND PROPERTIES OF PAHs

• ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

• ENVIRONMENTAL FATE PROCESSES

• DEGRADATION OF PAHs

• CONCLUSION

The aim of this presentation is to reviewcontemporary information on PAH pollution, PAH degradation, the fate and risk associated with the presence of these compounds in the environment and also to enlighten on some well-known possible remediations. 

OBJECTIVE

INTRODUCTION

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed and relocated in the environment as a result of the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Many PAHs and their epoxides are highly toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic to microorganisms as well as to higher systems including humans. Although various physicochemical methods have been used to remove these compounds from our environment, they have many limitations.

INTRODUCTION

WHAT ARE PAHs?• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are

hydrocarbons—organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen—that are composed of multiple aromatic rings (organic rings in which the electrons are delocalized)[1].

• They are a class of carcinogenic organic molecules that consist of three or more benzene rings and are commonly produced by fossil fuel combustion.

 

SOURCES AND USESPAHs are organic molecules that form from

a variety of natural and anthropogenic reactions.

Natural polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons form from forest fires and volcanic eruptions.

Man contributes PAHs by burning wood and incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.

The compounds are numerous in fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum.

Anthropogenic sources can be devised into two categories: the combustion of materials for energy supply (e.g. coal, oil, gas, wood, etc.) and combustion for waste minimalization (e.g. waste incineration) [1,2]

SOURCES AND USESAlthough the emphasis is on avoiding exposure to PAHs, some of these molecules are useful for making medicines, plastics, dyes, and pesticides.

SOME MOLECULAR MODELS

PROPERTIES OF PAHsPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are

lipophilic, nonpolar molecules.They tend to persist in the environment

because PAHs are not very soluble in water. They are weakly volatile and dissolve weakly in

water. All PAHs are solid at room temperature and

have high melting and boiling points.The movement of PAHs in the environment

depends on properties such as how easily they dissolve in water and how easily they evaporate in the air.

PROPERTIES OF PAHs

Table 1. Properties of PAHs [4]

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

Mammals can absorb PAHs by various routes e.g. inhalation, dermal contact and ingestion.

Plant can absorb PAHs from soils through their roots and translocate them to other plant parts.

PAHs are moderately persistent in the environment, and can bio-accumulate.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

Table 2. Partition of PAHs in Natural Environments [3]

FATE OF PAHs

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

PAHs are usually released into the air, or they evaporate into the air when they are released to soil or water .

Since PAHs are generally insoluble in water, they are generally found adsorbed on particulate and precipitated in the bottom of lakes and rivers, or solubilized in any oily matter which may contaminate water.

PAHs have moderate to high acute toxicity to aquatic life and birds.

DEGRADATION OF PAHs

Degradation of PAHs in the environment occurs through biological, chemical and photochemical processes.

These processes may also be utilized for remedial purposes. However, the degradation may result in a variety of transformation products some of which could potentially accumulate.

CONCLUSION

PAHs are released to the environment through natural and synthetic sources with emissions largely to the atmosphere. Synthetic sources provide a much greater release volume than natural sources.

PAHs are transported from surface waters by volatilization. In soil and sediments, microbial metabolism is the major process for degradation of PAHs. PAHs have a potential effect on the environment,both directly and indirectly. 

REFERENCES

[1]. [Fetzer, J. C. (2000). "The Chemistry and Analysis of the Large Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons". Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (New York: Wiley) 27 (2): 143.doi:10.1080/10406630701268255. ISBN 0-471-36354-5.

[2]. WILD S.R., JONES K.C. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbonsin the United Kingdom environment: a preliminary sourceinventory and budget. Environm. Poll. 88, 91, 1995.

[3]. RAMDAHL T., ALFHEIM I., BJORSETH A. PAH emission from various sources and their evolution over last decades. In "Mobile source emission including polycyclic organic species". Eds. D. Rondia et al., D. Reidel Publishing Company, 277, 1983.

[4]. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies Vol. 8, No. 3 (1999), 131-136