Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from drinking water sources of Taihu Lake, China: sources, partitioning and toxicological risk

Abstract

Sources, partitioning and toxicological risk of 15 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from drinking water sources of Taihu Lake, with an area of 2428 km(2) located in the most developed and populated area of China, were studied, and the results were compared with those in other lakes of China and the USA. Concentrations of the 15 PAHs in sediments ranged from 436.6 to 1334.9 ng g(-1) (dw). Gasoline combustion, coal combustion, diesel combustion from shipping and spillage of petroleum were apportioned to be the main sources of PAHs in this area by principal component analysis, which contributed 35.19%, 26.43%, 25.41% and 12.97% to the PAH sources estimated by further multiple linear regression. Levels of PAHs in sediments were negatively correlated with contents of clay and fine silt (<16 μm), while positively with contents of medium silt, coarse silt and sand (>16 μm). Humin with size larger than 16 μm contained the largest part of the burden of PAHs in sediments, but the specific partitioning domain (bound humic acid, lipid or insoluble residue) depended on properties of organic matter reflected by optical absorbance at 465 and 665 nm. Total toxic benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (TEQ(carc)) of the carcinogenic PAHs in sediments varied from 31.8 to 209.3 ngTEQ(carc) g(-1). Benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene contributed 45.36 and 25.31% to total TEQ(carc), posing high toxicological risk to this area.

Levels and distributions of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in sediment from Taihu Lake, China

“…Chem. 31,2012blooms, and ecosystem degradation [33,34,36]. Most of the water intakes for the surrounding population and the main water source protection zone are located in the northern and eastern parts of the lake, including Meiliang Bay, Gonghu Bay, and Xukou Bay.…”

“…In recent years, Taihu Lake has been subjected to increasing and more serious contamination due to rapid urbanization and industrial and agricultural development. It has been found that Taihu Lake has suffered from accelerated eutrophication resulting from overloading of nitrogen and phosphorus, thereby posing a health risk to the population surrounding the lake [31][32][33][34]. Extensive studies have disclosed a serious deterioration of water quality due to pollutants derived from household, industrial, and agricultural discharge, and several kinds of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been detected in air, water, sediment, and even biota in the region.…”

“…Extensive studies have disclosed a serious deterioration of water quality due to pollutants derived from household, industrial, and agricultural discharge, and several kinds of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been detected in air, water, sediment, and even biota in the region. Among the POPs detected are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), PBDEs, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane, decabromodiphenylethane, dechlorane plus (DP), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) [30][31][32][33]35]. Until now, there has been no information about the pollution status of OPs in this region.…”

Vertical records of sedimentary PAHs and their freely dissolved fractions in porewater profiles from the northern bays of Taihu Lake, Eastern China

“…17 Then PAHs in the waters should be taken into consideration in order to protect the water resources and human health in this region. A previous study had reported on the spatial distribution of PAHs in waters in the Lake, showing that the total PAHs concentrations in the overlying water and porewater were more than ten thousands ng L À1 and the northern bays were the most polluted areas.…”

Distribution, diffusive fluxes, and toxicity of heavy metals and PAHs in pore water profiles from the northern bays of Taihu Lake

“…However, most of these researches just focused on the spatial characteristics of pollution in surface sediments, and little information about the diffusive flux or toxicological risk of these toxic pollutants in pore water profiles could be acquired. In addition, supplying drinking water for large cities (such as Shanghai City and Wuxi City) is one of the most important functions of Taihu Lake (Tao et al 2010). Therefore, exploring the distribution and risk of toxic pollutants in pore water profiles from the heavily polluted areas of Taihu Lake is necessary to protect these water resources and human health.…”