Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Cochin Estuary and Backwaters

Abstract

The Cochin backwaters is a multiple-use system of great socioeconomic importance to the community. Activities that impact directly on the aquatic ecosystem include water transport and harbour operations, fishing, aquaculture, sand mining, coir making and upriver irrigation. Increasing urbanisation and industrialisation along the shores of the water system have inevitably exacerbated the problem of waste management and pollution control. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced naturally by the diagenetic transformation of organic matter to fossil fuels. However, the PAH load in the environment is enhanced by the extraction and utilisation of fossil fuels. Indeed, urban and domestic activities. such as the manufacturing industry. land-transport and domestic fires, are significant sources of the contaminants. Thus. the increasing production and load of PAHs in the environment is a direct consequence of the socio-economic activities in the neighbourhood. It follows that initiatives at controlling environmental contamination actually touch on the socio-economic culture of the community.