Health Risk Assessment of PAHs from Estuarine Sediments in the South of Italy

Increased concerns about the toxicities of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), ubiquitous and persistent compounds, as well as the associated ecotoxicology issue in estuarine sediments, have drawn attention worldwide in the last few years. The levels of PAHs in the Sele, Sarno, and Volturno Rivers sediments were evaluated. Moreover, the cancerogenic risk resulting from dermal and ingestion exposure to PAHs was estimated using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) assessment and the toxic equivalent concentration (TEQ(BaP)). For Sele River, the results showed that the total PAH concentration ranged from 632.42 to 844.93 ng g(−1) dw, with an average value of 738.68 ng g(−1) dw. ∑PAHs were in the range of 5.2–678.6 ng g(−1) dw and 434.8–872.1 ng g(−1) dw for the Sarno and Volturno River sediments, respectively. The cancerogenic risk from the accidental ingestion of PAHs in estuarine sediments was low at all sampling sites. However, based on the ILCR(dermal) values obtained, the risk of cancer associated with exposure by dermal contact with the PAHs present in the sediments was moderate, with a mean ILCR(dermal) value of 2.77 × 10(−6). This study revealed the pollution levels of PAHs across the South of Italy and provided a scientific basis for PAH pollution control and environmental protection.