Distribution, sources, and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the water and suspended sediments from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China

Abstract

Samples were collected from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, to study the concentrations, distributions, and compositions of 16 US-EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and suspended particulate matter (SPM). We also evaluated sources of the PAHs and their potential toxicity. Total concentrations of the PAHs (ΣPAHs) in water ranged from 17.33 to 77.12 ng L −1 , and in SPM, the levels ranged from 595.91 to 2473.74 ng g −1 . Total concentrations of seven carcinogenic PAHs (ΣCPAHs) ranged from 7.63 to 13.02 ng L −1 in water and 276.55 to 1216.89 ng g −1 in SPM. PAH levels in water samples were relatively low, and those in the lower reaches were higher than in the middle reaches. SPM samples had higher levels of PAHs, especially in the lower reaches and in Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. Principal component analysis (PCA) with multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) was performed to quantitatively characterize the PAH sources. Two factors and their contributions were identified from water samples. Coal and wood combustion accounted for 74.1 % of the PAHs, and petroleum emissions explained 25.9 % of the PAHs. Three source factors were identified from SPM samples: these were vehicular emissions (46.3 % of PAHs), wood and coal combustion (40.4 % of PAHs), and petrogenic sources (13.3 %). Ecological risk assessment indicated that a moderate undesirable impact will be caused by PAHs, and some control measures and remedial actions should be conducted.

Distribution pattern and mass budget of sedimentary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in shelf areas of the Eastern China Marginal Seas

“… Distribution of reported PAHs flux study in the worldwide (North Gulf of Mexico [ Adhikari et al ., ], NW Mediterranean [ Tolosa et al ., ], Gulf of Lions [ Bouloubassi et al ., ], Mediterranean [ Lipiatou et al ., ], SW Black Sea [ Parinos et al ., ], Gulf of Thailand [ Hu et al ., ], Beibu Gulf, China [ Li et al ., ], Pearl Estuary [ S. J. Chen et al ., ], East China Sea [ Lin et al ., ], Chiangjiang Estuary [ C . Wang et al ., ; J. Wang et al ., ], and Bohai Sea [ Qin et al ., ]).…”

“…[], and is described in detail in supporting information Text S1. Data on PAHs concentrations in the atmosphere and rivers were collected from published materials [ Wang et al ., ; Chen et al ., ; Qi et al ., ; C. Wang et al ., ] and detailed information is provided in supporting information Tables S1 and S2.…”

“…The specific calculation method for the four factors used in equation (2) was derived from Fang et al [2015], and is described in detail in supporting information Text S1. Data on PAHs concentrations in the atmosphere and rivers were collected from published materials Chen et al, 2016;Qi et al, 2014;C. Wang et al, 2016a] and detailed information is provided in supporting information Tables S1 and S2.…”

Shifts in the Distribution and Fate of Sedimentary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Within the Estuarine‐Inner Shelf Areas of the East China Sea: Response to Human‐Induced Catchment Change

“…We followed PAH extraction, purification, and quantification procedures documented in previous research (Wang, Zou, Zhao, et al, ). Briefly, after extraction, the extract was concentrated and further purified on a 1:1 alumina/silica gel glass column (8 mm diameter) and finally concentrated to exactly 1 ml.…”

“…Several studies have explored the distribution of PAHs in the ECS and discussed the factors that influence their transportation and burial (Li et al, ; Lin et al, ; Wang, Zou, Zhao, et al, ; Yu et al, ). However, most have mainly focused on the Changjiang (Yangtze) Estuary and are out of date.…”