Baseline of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface sediment and sea cucumbers (Holothuria leucospilota and Stichopus hermanni) in the northern parts of Persian Gulf

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the surface sediments and in the sea cucumbers ( Holothuria leucospilota and Stichopus hermanni ) from around six Islands in the northern parts of Persian Gulf. The ranges of the average concentrations of PAHs in surface sediments, H. leucospilota and S. hermanni were 10.33–186.16 ng g − 1 dw, 12.49–505.44 ng g − 1 dw and 8.08–389.39 ng g − 1 dw, respectively. The spatial distribution of PAHs reveals that pollutant concentration is relatively higher at the western parts of Persian Gulf. International sedimentary quality guidelines (TEL-PEL) indicated a low probability of harmful effects to benthic organisms. PAH source identification showed that the PAHs in the sediments come from pyrogenic and mixed origin.