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Characterization, sources, and potential risk assessment of PAHs in surface sediments from nearshore and farther shore zones of the Yangtze estuary, China

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Abstract

The assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in surface sediments from the Yangtze estuary which is a representative area affected by anthropogenic activity (rapid industrialization, high-population density, and construction of dams upstream) in the world was systematically conducted. Fifty-one samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ∑PAHs in all sediments varied from 76.9 to 2,936.8 ng g−1. Compared with other estuaries in the world, the PAH levels in the Yangtze estuary are low to moderate. Phenanthrene, acenaphthylene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were relatively abundant. The ∑PAH levels and composition varied obviously in different estuarine zones due to different sources. The highest ∑PAHs concentration was observed in the nearshore of Chongming Island. The PAH composition showed that four to six ring PAHs were mainly found in the nearshore areas, while two to three ring PAHs were in the farther shore zones. The PAHs in the Yangtze estuary were derived primarily from combustion sources. A mixture of petroleum combustion and biomass combustion mainly from coal combustion and vehicle emission was the main source of PAHs from the nearshore areas, while the spill, volatilization, or combustion of petroleum from shipping process and shoreside discharge were important for PAHs in the farther shore areas. The result of potential ecotoxicological risk assessment based on sediment quality guidelines indicated low PAH ecological risk in the Yangtze estuary. The study could provide foundation for the protection of water quality of the Yangtze estuary by inducing main sources input.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Project, Grant No. 2010CB429003), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21177013), the fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities and Special Fund of State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation (Grant No. 11K04ESPCN).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, People’s Republic of China

    Ying Wang, Xue Li, Zhenyao Y. Shen & Chenghong H. Feng

  2. State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, People’s Republic of China

    Ying Wang, Baohua H. Li, Zhenyao Y. Shen & Yaxin X. Chen

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  1. Ying Wang
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  2. Xue Li
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  3. Baohua H. Li
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  4. Zhenyao Y. Shen
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  5. Chenghong H. Feng
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  6. Yaxin X. Chen
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Correspondence to Ying Wang.

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Responsible editor: Leif Kronberg

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Wang, Y., Li, X., Li, B.H. et al. Characterization, sources, and potential risk assessment of PAHs in surface sediments from nearshore and farther shore zones of the Yangtze estuary, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 4148–4158 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0952-7

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