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Spatial distribution, source analysis, and ecological risk assessment of PBDEs in river sediment around Taihu Lake, China

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Abstract

The distribution and composition of organic pollutants in sediment are affected by the source and regional environment. To understand the characteristics and risk of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the area around Taihu Lake, composite sediment samples (n = 41) were collected in rivers around Taihu Lake to explore the level, spatial distribution, and source of PBDEs. The results showed that the most abundant BDE congener in river sediment was BDE209, followed by BDE99 and BDE47, with median values of 48.7, 2.17, and 1.52 ng g−1, respectively. Concentrations of PBDEs in sediments from northern rivers were significantly higher than those from other areas, but the overall risk was at a moderate-lower level compared with research results in other references. Results of principle component analysis (PCA) and source characteristics analysis revealed that most of PBDEs in river sediments around Taihu Lake were mixture of multiple sources, which mainly originated from atmospheric deposition, industrial wastewater, and municipal sewage. TOC showed good correlations with most PBDEs, which implied that PBDE components were influenced by sediment organic matter. Meanwhile, the risk of PBDEs in river sediments in this study area is a moderate-lower level.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41372354) and Top-notch Academic Programs Project of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PPZY2015A051). This work was also supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Xuyin Yuan, Yimin Wang & Li Tang

  2. College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Xuyin Yuan, Yimin Wang, Li Tang, Huihua Zhou, Nian Han & Hai Zhu

  3. USDA-ARS Southern Regional Research Center, 1100 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, New Orleans, LA, 70124, USA

    Minori Uchimiya

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  1. Xuyin Yuan
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  2. Yimin Wang
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Correspondence to Xuyin Yuan.

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Yuan, X., Wang, Y., Tang, L. et al. Spatial distribution, source analysis, and ecological risk assessment of PBDEs in river sediment around Taihu Lake, China. Environ Monit Assess 192, 309 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08286-2

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