Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marine organisms from two fishing grounds, South Yellow Sea, China: Bioaccumulation and human health risk assessment

Sediment and marine organism samples collected from Haizhou Bay and Lusi fishing ground in South Yellow Sea, China were analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The concentrations of 16 PAHs in marine organisms ranged from 127.43 to 350.53 ng/g dry weight (dw, Haizhou Bay fishing ground) and from 86.37 to 213.02 ng/g dw (Lusi fishing ground). The dominant compounds were 2- and 3-ring PAHs in marine organism tissues. The main PAH sources were found to be coal combustion. Specific habitat, feeding habit, trophic level and environmental differences may affect the PAH levels in marine organisms in our study area. The biota–sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) decreased with increasing PAH log Kow and BSAF values might differ in response to various environmental conditions and species. The excess cancer risk from PAH-contaminated seafood consumption was slightly higher than the guideline value (10−6), but much lower than the priority risk level (10−4). •PAHs were determined in marine organisms from Haizhou Bay and Lusi fishing ground.•The main PAH sources were found to be coal combustion.•PAH-contaminated seafood consumption pose little threat to human health.•BSAFs were significantly negatively correlated with log Kow values.•BSAFs of organisms differed widely among species and regions.