Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Why it matters?
Following the ELSA 3 shipwreck in the Arabian Sea, a scientific investigation by the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) confirmed significant ecological disruption from leaked furnace oil and diesel.
The study detected elevated levels of PAHs like naphthalene and fluorene in the water, which have bioaccumulated in the marine food chain.
Asia contributes ~55% of global PAH emissions, with China and India as top emitters.
What you should know?
PAHs are a group of chemical compounds generated from the incomplete combustion of organic materials like coal, oil, gas, and wood.
Other PAH Compound includes: Anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene.
They are ubiquitous contaminants found in air, water, and soil, and can exist in both gas and particulate phases.
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is often used as a key indicator for the entire PAH family.
Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria
Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria such as Neptunomonas acidivorans, Halomonas tabrizica, and Acinetobacter baumannii.
Their abundance at the spill site points to natural bioremediation potential.
Sources:
Anthropogenic sources
biofuel combustion, motor vehicles, industrial processes (coal coking, petroleum refining, aluminium production, etc.), residential heating, tobacco smoke.
Other major sources
These include industrial processes, motor vehicle traffic, residential heating, and waste incineration.
Natural sources
Include forest fires and volcanic eruptions.
Health and Environmental Impacts:
Many PAHs are carcinogenic.
PAHs can bioaccumulate in the food chain.
For example, zooplankton can absorb PAHs, which are then transferred up the food web to fish and potentially humans.
Exposure linked to lung cancer, even in non-smokers.
Other risks: DNA damage, genetic mutations, and oxidative stress.