Skip to main content

Basin-Scale Study on the Multiphase Distribution, Source Apportionment and Risk Assessment of PAHs in the Hai River Water System

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology volume 71, pages 365–376 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

As a systematic research at basin scale, this study explored the composition and concentration characteristics of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments, water, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the water systems (rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) in the Hai River Basin through literature review. The sources and the ecosystem risks of PAHs in the sediments in the entire basin were specially discussed with diagnostic ration, PAHs composition, and an improved risk quotient method. Results showed that the total concentration of PAHs varied from 99.65 to 25,303 ng g−1 dry weight in sediments, from 51.0 to 559.1 ng L−1 in water, and from 4528 to 51,080 ng g−1 dry weight in SPM, respectively. The dominant PAHs in the three examined phases were 2–3 rings in most waterbodies. PAHs in the rivers were from mixed sources (petrogenic and pyrolytic inputs), whereas those in lakes and reservoirs were mainly from biomass combustion and petroleum combustion. PAHs in the entire basin exhibited moderate to high ecological risk, and the rivers (especially Hai River, Jiyun River, Chaobai River, and Beiyun River) suffered higher ecological risk than reservoirs and lakes. Most of the rivers with higher PAHs risk flow through or around megacity Beijing and Tianjin.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  • Bao Z, Zhang J, Liu J, Wang G, Yan X, Wang X, Zhang L (2012) Sensitivity of hydrological variables to climate change in the Haihe River basin, China. Hydrol Process 26:2294–2306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumard P, Budzinski H, Michon Q, Garrigues P, Burgeot T, Bellocq J (1998) Origin and bioavailability of PAHs in the Mediterranean Sea from mussel and sediment records. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 47:77–90

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumard P, Budzinski H, Garrigues P, Narbonne JF, Burgeot T, Michel X, Bellocq J (1999) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) burden of mussels (Mytilus Sp.) in different marine environments in relation with sediment PAH contamination, and bioavailability. Mar Environ Res 47:415–439

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao Z (2010) Characterization and ecosystem risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of two rivers in the Hai River Basin, China. Dissertation, Beijing Normal University

  • Cao Z, Liu J, Li Y, Ma M (2010a) Distribution and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in water and sediments of the Luan River, China. Toxicol Enviro Chem 92:707–720

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao Z, Liu J, Luan Y, Li Y, Ma M, Xu J, Han S (2010b) Distribution and ecosystem risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Luan River, China. Ecotoxicology 19:827–837

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao Z, Liu J, Luan Y, Li Y, Han S, Liu B, Wang S (2010c) Pollution characteristics, risk assessment and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment and water of the Luan River, China. Acta Sci Circumst 30:246–253 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carmen P, Burkhard H, Jelena P, Yi Y, Ternes TA, Thilo H (2008) Characterization and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in river bank soils. Chemosphere 72:1594–1601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C, Chen C, Dong C, Kao C (2013) Assessment of toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of Kaohsiung Harbor. Taiwan Sci Total Environ 463–464:1174–1181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Y, Zhu L, Tian S (2009) Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the Haihe River and the Bohai Sea. Acta Sci Circumst 29:2420–2425 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cobas M, Sanromán MA, Pazos M, Ferreira L (2014) Assessment of sepiolite as a low-cost adsorbent for phenanthrene and pyrene removal: kinetic and equilibrium studies. Ecol Eng 70:287–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai G, Wang B, Huang J, Rui D, Deng S, Gang Y (2015) Occurrence and source apportionment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the Beiyun River of Beijing, China. Chemosphere 119:1033–1039

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doong RA, Lin YT (2004) Characterization and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminations in surface sediment and water from Gao-ping River. Taiwan Water Res 38:1733–1744

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandes MB, Sicre MA, Boireau A, Tronczynski J (1997) Polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) distributions in the Seine River and its estuary. Mar Pollut Bull 34:857–867

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Gutiérrez A, Garnacho E, Bayona JM, Albaigés J (2007) Screening ecological risk assessment of persistent organic pollutants in Mediterranean sea sediments. Environ Int 33:867–876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gschwend PM, Hites RA (1981) Fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to marine and lacustrine sediments in the northeastern United States. Geochim Et Cosmochim Acta 45:2359–2367

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo W, He M, Yang Z, Lin C, Quan X, Wang H (2007) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water, suspended particulate matter and sediment from Daliao River watershed, China. Chemosphere 68:93–104

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo W, He M, Yang Z, Lin C, Quan X, Men B (2009) Distribution, partitioning and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Daliao River water system in dry season, China. J Hazard Mater 164:1379–1385

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo J, Liao H, Han M, Wen L, Zhang R, Wang J, Wu F (2010) Temporal distribution, sources, and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediment core from Miyun reservoir. Environ Sci 31:626–631 in Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • He X, Huang B (2013) Analysis of the water quality of Haihe river system and pollution control measures. Saf Environ Eng 20:28–32 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heemken OP, Stachel B, Theobald N, Wenclawiak BW (2000) Temporal variability of organic micropollutants in suspended particulate matter of the River Elbe at Hamburg and the River Mulde at Dessau, Germany. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 38:11–31

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu G, Guo J, Luo X, Chen S, Xu M, Dai J, Mai B, Li F (2009) Distribution, sources, and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from Baiyangdian Lake. Res Environ Sci 22:321–326 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu G, Luo X, Li F, Dai J, Guo J, Chen S, Cao H, Mai B, Xu M (2010) Organochlorine compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediment from Baiyangdian Lake, North China: concentrations, sources profiles and potential risk. J Environ Sci China 22:176–183

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang S, Wang Z, Xu Y, Ma M (2005) Distribution, sources and potential toxicological significance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Guanting Reservoir sediments, China. J Environ Sci China 17:48–53

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang B, Zheng H, Huang G, Ding H, Li X, Suo H, Li R (2007) Characterization and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in sediments of Haihe River, Tianjin, China. J Environ Sci China 19:306–311

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang J, Lee CL, Fang M, Liu J (2009) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediments of southwest Taiwan: an appraisal of diagnostic ratios in source recognition. Mar Pollut Bull 58:752–760

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiao W, Wang T, Khim JS, Luo W, Hu W, Naile JE, Giesy JP, Lu Y (2012) PAHs in surface sediments from coastal and estuarine areas of the Northern Bohai and Yellow Seas, China. Environ Geochem Health 34:445–456

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jing H, Zhang Z, Guo J (2013) Water pollution characteristics and pollution sources of Bei Canal river system in Beijing. China Environ Sci 33:319–327 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalf DF, Crommentuijn T, Vandeplassche EJ (1997) Environment quality objectives for l0 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 36:89–97

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karami A, Christianus A, Ishak Z, Shamsuddin ZH, Masoumian M, Courtenay SC (2012) Use of intestinal Pseudomonas aeruginosa in fish to detect the environmental pollutant benzo[a]pyrene. J Hazard Mater 215–216:108–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly BC, Lkonomou MG, Blair JD, Morin AE, Gobas FA (2007) Food web-specific biomagnifications of persistent organic pollutants. Science 317:236–239

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laflamme RE, Hites RA (1978) The global distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in recent sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 42:289–303

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Law RJ, Dawes VJ, Woodhead RJ, Matthiessen P (1997) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in seawater around England and Wales. Mar Pollut Bull 34:306–322

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li T (2008) Bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for Corbicula fluminea from sediment in sewer channel of Tianjin. Dissertation, Southwest University

  • Li S (2014) Research on variation of essential factors and vulnerability of aquatic ecosystem in Haihe Basin. Dissertation, Tianjin University

  • Li Y, Liu J, Cao Z, Lin C, Yang Z (2010) Spatial distribution and health risk of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water of the Luanhe River Basin, China. Environ Monit Assess 163:1–13

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li B, Feng C, Li X, Chen Y, Niu J, Shen Z (2012) Spatial distribution and source apportionment of PAHs in surficial sediments of the Yangtze Estuary, China. Mar Pollut Bull 64:636–643

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Zhang G, Jones KC, Li X, Peng X, Qi S (2005) Compositional fractionation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mosses (Hypnum plumaeformae WILS) from the northern slope of Nanling Mountains, South China. Atmos Environ 39:5490–5499

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu F, Liu J, Chen Q, Wang B, Cao Z (2012) Pollution characteristics, ecological risk and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediment from Tuhai-Majia River system, China. Proced Environ Sci 13:1301–1314

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu F, Liu J, Chen Q, Wang B, Cao Z (2013a) Pollution characteristics and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of the southern part of the Haihe River system in China. China Sci Bull 58:3348–3356

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Xu Z, Zhu Z, Jia Z, Zhu M (2013b) Measurements of evapotranspiration from eddy-covariance systems and large aperture scintillometers in the Hai River Basin, China. J Hydrol 487:24–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu X, Zhang S, Chen C, Hou Z, Yang J (2012) Concentration characteristics and ecological risk of persistent organic pollutants in the surface sediments of Tianjin coastal area. Environ Sci 33:3426–3433 in Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo X, Chen S, Mai B, Zeng Y, Sheng G, Fu J (2005) Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from rivers of Pearl River Delta and its nearby South China Sea. Environ Sci 26:129–134 in Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai B, Qi S, Zeng E, Yang Q, Zhang G, Fu J, Sheng G, Peng P, Wang Z (2003) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the coastal region off Macao, China: assessment of input sources and transport pathways using compositional analysis. Environ Sci Technol 37:4855–4863

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manoli E, Samara C (1999) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in natural waters: sources, occurrence and analysis. TRAC Trend Anal Chem 18:417–428

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meng Q, Bi X, Xu X, Chu S (2001) Distribution and characterization of hydrocarbons in the sediment of Yuyuantan Lake, Beijing. Acta Sci Circumst 21:117–119 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neff JM (1979) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment: sources, fates, and biological effects. Applied Science, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Oen AMP, Cornelissen G, Breedveld GD (2006) Relation between PAH and black carbon contents in size fractions of Norwegian harbor sediments. Environ Pollut 141:370–380

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen Q, Wang K, Zhang W, Zhang S, Hu J, Hu L, Wang X (2007a) Distribution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the suspend particle of rivers from Tongzhou District of Beijing. Res Environ Sci 20:58–62 in Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen Q, Wang K, Zhang W, Zhang S, Hu L, Hu J, Wang X (2007b) Distribution and seasonal variations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water from Tongzhou District of Beijing. Environ Chem 26:523–527 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Z, Tao S, Pan B, Fan W, He X, Zuo Q, Wu S, Li B, Cao J, Liu W (2005) Contamination of rivers in Tianjin, China by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ Pollut 134:97–111

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Z, Tao S, Pan B, Liu W, Shen W (2007) Partitioning and source diagnostics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rivers in Tianjin, China. Environ Pollut 146:492–500

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shuai W (2010) Pollution characteristics of water environment and naphthalene sorption-desorption process in sediments of Tongzhou section of Liangshui River, Beijing. Dissertation, South China University of Technology

  • Soclo HH, Garrigues P, Ewald M (2000) Origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coastal marine sediments: case studies in Cotonou (Benin) and Aquitaine (France) areas. Mar Pollut Bull 40:387–396

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su M, Yu J, Pan S, Wei A, Yang M (2014) Spatial and temporal variations of two cyanobacteria in the mesotrophic Miyun reservoir, China. J Environ Sci China 26:289–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun S, Huang S, Sun X, Wen W (2009) Phosphorus fractions and its release in the sediments of Haihe River, China. J Environ Sci China 21:291–295

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Telli-Karakoc F, Tolun L, Henkelmann B, Klimm C, Okay O, Schramm K (2002) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) distributions in the Bay of Marmara sea: izmit Bay. Environ Pollut 119:383–397

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong B (2007) Study on typical toxic organic compounds in Yuyuantan. Dissertation, Huazhong Agricultural University

  • Tong B, Liu L, Liu X, Gao J, Lu J, Zhou H, Zhu D (2007) Studies on PAHs in water, suspended particular matter and sediment of Yuyuantan Lake, Beijing. China Environ Sci 27:450–455 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ünlü S, Alpar B, Öztürk K, Vardar D (2010) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surficial sediments from Lake Iznik (Turkey): spatial distributions and sources. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 85:573–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang K, Bao Z, Xue J, Zhao Q, Zhang Z, Zhu X, Kang J, Xu H, Shen X (1986) An investigation of organic pollutants in the Beijing wastewater river. Environ Chem 5:43–48 in Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Chu, S, Ma L, Sun Y, Li X, Xu X (2004) Contamination of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water from Guanting reservoir and the Yongding River, China. B Environ Contam Tox 72:194–201

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Yan D, Du X, Yu Z, Shen L, Weng B (2014) Drought risk assessment based on water resources system: a case study in Zhangwei River Basin. J Catastr 29:98–104 in Chinese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcke W (2007) Global patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil. Geoderma 141:157–166

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Wang R, Zhou Y, Lin B, Fu L, He K, Hao J (2011) On-road vehicle emission control in Beijing: past, present, and future. Environ Sci Technol 45:147–153

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia X, Zhai Y, Dong J (2013) Contribution ratio of freely to total dissolved concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in natural river waters. Chemosphere 90:1785–1793

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan C, Zheng M, Yang Q, Zhang Q, Qiu X, Zhang Y, Fu H, Li X, Zhu T, Zhu Y (2015) Commuter exposure to particulate matter and particle-bound PAHs in three transportation modes in Beijing, China. Environ Pollut 204:199–206

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang D, Xu L (2009) Current status analysis and future trend prediction on the water quality of the Guanting reservoir. Beijing Water 02:30–32 in Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Watanabe M, Zhang X, Zhang J, Wang Q, Hayashi S (2006) Optimizing irrigation management for wheat to reduce groundwater depletion in the piedmont region of the Taihang Mountains in the North China Plain. Agric Water Manag 82:25–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yunker MB, Macdonald RW, Vingarzan R, Mitchell RH, Goyette D, Sylvestre S (2002) PAHs in the Fraser River basin: a critical appraisal of PAH ratios as indicators of PAH source and composition. Org Geochem 33:489–515

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng S, Dong X, Chen J (2013) Toxicity assessment of metals in sediment from the lower reaches of the Haihe River Basin in China. Int J Sediment Res 28:172–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Huang J, Yu G, Hong H (2004a) Occurrence of PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in the Tonghui River of Beijing, China. Environ Pollut 130:249–261

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Cai L, Yuan D, Meng C (2004b) Distribution and sources of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in Mangrove surficial sediments of Deep Bay, China. Mar Pollut Bull 49:479–486

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Tao S, Shen W, Shi Z, Ye B, Wu S, Pang B, Zhang Z, Li Y, Ding L (2005) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds in sediments from various rivers in Tianjin. Acta Sci Circumst 25:1507–1516 in Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao G, Zhou H, Liu X, Li K, Zhang P, Wen W, Yu Y (2012) PHAHs in 14 principal river sediments from Hai River basin, China. Sci Total Environ 427–428:139–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao X, Xia X, Zhang S, Wu Q, Wang X (2014) Spatial and vertical variations of perfluoroalkyl substances in sediments of the Haihe River, China. J Environ Sci China 26:1557–1566

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng H (2007) Study on distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminations in surface sediments from Hai River in Tianjin. Dissertation, Tianjin University

  • Zhou H, Zhao J, Lu J, Wang Y, Yuan H, Wan X (2008) Distribution, sources and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from Baiyangdian wetland. Asian J Ecotox 3:291–299 in Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Y, Wu W, Wang J, Qin N, Wang Y, He Q, Xu L (2009) Distribution, sources and ecological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water-sediment system in Lake Small Baiyangdian. J Lake Sci 21:637–646 in Chinese

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Critical Patented Projects in the Control and Management of the National Polluted Water Bodies (2012ZX07203-006) and the Nonprofit Environment Protection Specific Project of China (201409040). The authors thank the editor and the reviewers.

Funding

This study was funded by the Critical Patented Projects in the Control and Management of the National Polluted Water Bodies (2012ZX07203-006) and the Nonprofit Environment Protection Specific Project of China (201409040).

Author information

Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Rufeng Li, Su Yin, Jingling Liu & Chenghong Feng

  2. School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450045, China

    Xian’e Zhang

  3. The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Rufeng Li, Yanzhen Liu & Chenghong Feng

Authors
  1. Rufeng Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xian’e Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanzhen Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Su Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jingling Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chenghong Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chenghong Feng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 29 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, R., Zhang, X., Liu, Y. et al. Basin-Scale Study on the Multiphase Distribution, Source Apportionment and Risk Assessment of PAHs in the Hai River Water System. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 71, 365–376 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-016-0297-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-016-0297-1

Keywords

  • PAHs
  • Suspend Particulate Matter
  • Overlie Water
  • Total PAHs
  • Individual PAHs