Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial distribution, potential risk assessment, and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of Lake Chaohu, China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Twenty-nine sediment samples were collected from Lake Chaohu, a shallow eutrophic lake in Eastern China, and were analyzed for 15 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to determine the spatial distribution and exposure risks of PAHs. Three receptor models, the principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) model, the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, and the Unmix model, were used in combination with the PAHs diagnostic ratios to investigate the potential source apportionment of PAHs. A clear gradient in the spatial distribution and the potential toxicity of PAHs was observed from west to east in the sediments of Lake Chaohu. ∑15PAH concentrations and the TEQ were in the range of 80.82-30 365.01 ng g−1 d.w. and 40.77-614.03, respectively. The highest values of the aforementioned variables were attributed to urban–industrial pollution sources in the west lake region, and the levels decreased away from the river inlets. The three different models yielded excellent correlation coefficients between the predicted and measured levels of the 15 PAH compounds. Similarly, source apportionment results were derived from the three receptor models and the PAH diagnostic ratios, suggesting that the highest contribution to the PAHs was from coal combustion and wood combustion, followed by vehicular emissions. The PMF model yielded the following contributions to the PAHs from gasoline combustion, diesel combustion, unburned petroleum emissions, and wood combustion: 34.49, 24.61, 16.11, 13.01, and 11.78 %, respectively. The PMF model produced more detailed source apportionment results for the PAHs than the PCA-MLR and Unmix models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agarwal T, Khillare PS, Shridhar V (2006) PAHs contamination in bank sediment of the Yamuna River, Delhi, India. Environ Monit Assess 123(1–3):151–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahrens MJ, Depree CV (2010) A source mixing model to apportion PAHs from coal tar and asphalt binders in street pavements and urban aquatic sediments. Chemosphere 81(11):1526–1535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bakhtiari AR, Zakaria MP, Yaziz MI, Lajis MNH, Bi X, Rahim MCA (2009) Vertical distribution and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in anoxic sediment cores of Chini Lake, Malaysia: perylene as indicator of land plant-derived hydrocarbons. Appl Geochem 24(9):1777–1787

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barakat A, Mostafa A, Wade T, Sweet S, Sayed N (2011) Spatial distribution and temporal trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from Lake Maryut, Alexandria, Egypt. Water Air Soil Pollut 218(1–4):63–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CCME (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment) (2010) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Canadian soil quality guidelines for protection of environmental and human health. Canadian soil quality guidelines. http://ceqg-rcqe.ccme.ca/

  • Chen Y, Sheng G, Bi X, Feng Y, Mai B, Fu J (2005) Emission factors for carbonaceous particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from residential coal combustion in China. Environ Sci Technol 39(6):1861–1867

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen HY, Teng YG, Wang JS (2012) Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of the Rizhao coastal area (China) using diagnostic ratios and factor analysis with nonnegative constraints. Sci Total Environ 414:293–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choudhary P, Routh J (2010) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Kumaun Himalayan Lakes, northwest India. Org Geochem 41(9):891–894

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo J, Wu F, Luo X, Liang Z, Liao H, Zhang R, Li W, Zhao X, Chen S, Mai B (2010) Anthropogenic input of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into five lakes in Western China. Environ Pollut 158(6):2175–2180

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haritash AK, Kaushik CP (2009) Biodegradation aspects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): a review. J Hazard Mater 169(1–3):1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henry RC, Christensen ER (2010) Selecting an appropriate multivariate source apportionment model result. Environ Sci Technol 44(7):2474–2481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu G, Luo X, Li F, Dai J, Guo J, Chen S, Hong C, 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 22(2):176–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Itoh N, Tamamura S, Kumagai M (2010) Distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a sediment core from the north basin of Lake Biwa, Japan. Org Geochem 41(8):845–852

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiao L, Zheng GJ, Minh TB, Richardson B, Chen L, Zhang Y, Yeung LW, Lam JC, Yang X, Lam PK, Wong MH (2009) Persistent toxic substances in remote lake and coastal sediments from Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic: levels, sources and fluxes. Environ Pollut 157(4):1342–1351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khairy MA, Lohmann R (2012) Field validation of polyethylene passive air samplers for parent and alkylated PAHs in Alexandria, Egypt. Environ Sci Technol 46(7):3990–3998

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khairy MA, Lohmann R (2013) Source apportionment and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmospheric environment of Alexandria, Egypt. Chemosphere 91(7):895–903

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khalili NR, Scheff PA, Holsen TM (1995) PAH source fingerprints for coke ovens, diesel and, gasoline engines, highway tunnels, and wood combustion emissions. Atmos Environ 29(4):533–542

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khim JS, Kannan K, Villeneuve DL, Koh CH, Giesy JP (1999) Characterization and distribution of trace organic contaminants in sediment from Masan Bay, Korea. 1. Instrumental analysis. Environ Sci Technol 33(23):4199–4205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lang YH, Yang W (2014) Source apportionment of PAHs using Unmix Model for Yantai costal surface sediments, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 92(1):30–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen RK, Baker JE (2003) Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban atmosphere: a comparison of three methods. Environ Sci Technol 37(9):1873–1881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li HL, Gao H, Zhu C, Li GG, Yang F, Gong ZY, Lian J (2009) Spatial and temporal distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of the Nansi Lake, China. Environ Monit Assess 154(1–4):469–478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu E, Shen J, Yang X, Zhang E (2012) Spatial distribution and human contamination quantification of trace metals and phosphorus in the sediments of Chaohu Lake, a eutrophic shallow lake, China. Environ Monit Assess 184(4):2105–2118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Beckingham B, Ruegner H, Li Z, Ma LM, Schwientek M, Xie H, Zhao JF, Grathwohl P (2013) Comparison of sedimentary PAHs in the Rivers of Ammer (Germany) and Liangtan (China): differences between early- and newly-industrialized countries. Environ Sci Technol 47:701–709

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malik A, Verma P, Singh AK, Singh KP (2011) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and bed sediments of the Gomti River, India. Environ Monit Assess 172(1–4):529–545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manariotis ID, Karapanagioti HK, Chrysikopoulos CV (2011) Degradation of PAHs by high frequency ultrasound. Water Res 45(8):2587–2594

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pancras JP, Vedantham R, Landis MS, Norris GA, Ondov JM (2011) Application of EPA Unmix and nonparametric wind regression on high time resolution trace elements and speciated mercury in Tampa, Florida aerosol. Environ Sci Technol 45(8):3511–3518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson AL, Subramanian R, Donahue NM, Rogge WF (2006) Source apportionment of molecular markers and organic aerosol 1. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and methodology for data visualization. Environ Sci Technol 40(24):7803–7810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Z, Tao S, Pan B, Fan W, He XC, Zuo Q, Wu SP, Li BG, Cao J, Liu WX, Xu FL, Wang XJ, Shen WR, Wong PK (2005) Contamination of rivers in Tianjin, China by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ Pollut 134(1):97–111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Z, Tao S, Pan B, Liu WX, Shen WR (2007) Partitioning and source diagnostics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rivers in Tianjin, China. Environ Pollut 146(2):492–500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi GL, Tian YZ, Guo CS, Feng Y-C, Xu J, Zhang Y (2012) Sediment pore water partition of PAH source contributions to the Yellow River using two receptor models. J Soils Sediments 12(7):1154–1163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smirnov A, Abrajano TA Jr, Smirnov A, Stark A (1998) Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of Lake Erie, Part 1. Spatial distribution, transport, and deposition. Org Geochem 29(5–7):1813–1828

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sofowote UM, McCarry BE, Marvin CH (2008) Source apportionment of PAH in Hamilton harbour suspended sediments: comparison of two factor analysis methods. Environ Sci Technol 42(16):6007–6014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S, Jiao XC, Chen SH, Liu WX, Coveney RM Jr, Zhu LZ, Luo YM (2006) Accumulation and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rice (Oryza sativa). Environ Pollut 140(3):406–415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US Environmental Protection Agency (2007) EPA Unmix 6.0 Fundamentals & User Guide. National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

  • US Environmental Protection Agency (2008) EPA positive matrix factorization (PMF) 3.0 Fundamentals & User Guide. National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

  • 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(6):573–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Usenko S, Simonich SLM, Hageman KJ, Schrlau JE, Geiser L, Campbell DH, Appleby PG, Landers DH (2010) Sources and deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to Western U.S. National Parks. Environ Sci Technol 44(12):4512–4518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vinas L, Angeles Franco M, Antonio Soriano J, Jose Gonzalez J, Pon J, Albaiges J (2010) Sources and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from the Spanish northern continental shelf. Assessment of spatial and temporal trends. Environ Pollut 158(5):1551–1560

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TR, MacLean B, Appleton R, McMillan S, Miles M (2013) Cost-effective sediment dredge disposal options for small craft harbors in Canada. Remediat J 23(4):123–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Li X, Li B, Shen Z, Feng C, Chen Y (2012) 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(9):4148–4158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XT, Miao Y, Zhang Y, Li YC, Wu MH, Yu G (2013) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban soils of the megacity Shanghai: occurrence, source apportionment and potential human health risk. Sci Total Environ 447:80–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yunker MB (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

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zan F, Huo S, Xi B, Li Q, Liao H, Zhang J (2011a) Phosphorus distribution in the sediments of a shallow eutrophic lake, Lake Chaohu, China. Environ Earth Sci 62(8):1643–1653

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zan F, Huo S, Xi B, Su J, Li X, Zhang J, Yeager KM (2011b) A 100 year sedimentary record of heavy metal pollution in a shallow eutrophic lake, Lake Chaohu, China. J Environ Monit 13(10):2788–2797

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng XY, Cao SX, Zhang DL, Gao ST, Yu ZQ, Li HR, Sheng GY, Fu JM (2012) Levels and distribution of synthetic musks and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sludge collected from Guangdong Province. J Environ Sci Health 47(3):389–397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang K, Wang JZ, Liang B, Zeng EY (2011) Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of a highly urbanized river system with special reference to energy consumption patterns. Environ Pollut 159(6):1510–1515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Guo CS, Xu J, Tian YZ, Shi GL, Feng YC (2012) Potential source contributions and risk assessment of PAHs in sediments from Taihu Lake, China: comparison of three receptor models. Water Res 46(9):3065–3073

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Mega-projects of Science Research for Water Environmental Improvement (Program No. 2012ZX07101-002) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41303085).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

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

    Chaocan Li

  2. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, 100012, China

    Chaocan Li, Shouliang Huo, Beidou Xi & Fengchang Wu

  3. Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Zhiqiang Yu & Xiangying Zeng

Authors
  1. Chaocan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shouliang Huo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhiqiang Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Beidou Xi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiangying Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fengchang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shouliang Huo.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Hongwen Sun

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, C., Huo, S., Yu, Z. et al. Spatial distribution, potential risk assessment, and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of Lake Chaohu, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 12028–12039 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3137-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3137-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation