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Characterization, sources and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the mangroves of China

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Abstract

We characterized 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of natural mangrove habitats in China, as well as assessed their sources and the risks they pose. Our results indicate that the total concentrations of the 16 PAHs ranged from 3.16 to 464.05 ng g−1 dw (mean value of 72.80 ng g−1 dw), which were generally lower than those in other coastal environments in China and in other countries. The compositional patterns were dominated by four-ring PAHs, including fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene. Petrogenic sources, specifically, petroleum spills, were the dominant sources of PAHs in the surficial sediments of mangroves in China. Selected ratios of PAHs from two-tailed Pearson correlation analysis and principal-component analysis for different sites also indicate pyrolytic sources of PAHs. Results of the ecological risk assessment show little negative effect of most of the PAHs in the surface sediments. Overall, the data obtained in this study reveal relative low PAHs pollution in the mangrove swamps of China.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Basic Fund of Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No. 2013FY112200), the Marine Geology Survey Project (Grant No. GZH201100203), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41306064).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geological Survey, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Dao-lai Zhang

  2. Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Dao-lai Zhang, Ping Yin, Zhi-gang Zhu, Jing-fang Lu, Xue-hui Lin & Xue-jun Jiang

  3. Colleage of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Dao-lai Zhang

  4. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Na Liu

  5. First Institute Oceanography of SOA, Qingdao, 266063, China

    Xian-wei Meng

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  1. Dao-lai Zhang
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Zhang, Dl., Liu, N., Yin, P. et al. Characterization, sources and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the mangroves of China. Wetlands Ecol Manage 25, 105–117 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-016-9505-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-016-9505-z

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