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Spatial and Seasonal Variations of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in Surface Water and Sediment in Pearl River Delta

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Abstract

A field study in the Pearl River Delta of China was conducted in order to describe to the spatial and seasonal variation of occurrence and concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in surface water and sediments. Petroleum hydrocarbons and isoprenoid alkanes were quantified by UV spectroscopy and gas chromatography with a mass selective detector. The concentrations of TPH ranged from 4.3 to 68.7 µg L−1 in surface water, and from 66.6 to 1445 µg g−1 in surface sediments. The ratios of pristine to phytane suggested that the main sources of TPH in the sediment were petroleum importation. The highest concentrations of TPH were present in the spring season. When compared with results from previous studies, it can be concluded that the Pearl River Delta was moderately polluted by TPH. No statistically significant correlations were observed between the concentrations of TPH in surface water and sediments.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the National Fund-Joint Fund Key Projects of Guangdong Province (U1133003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, No. 601, Huangpu Da Dao Xi, Guangzhou, 510632, People’s Republic of China

    Jiandi Zhao & Pinghe Yin

  2. Research Center of Analysis and Test, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People’s Republic of China

    Pinghe Yin

  3. Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Environmental Engineering, Jinan University, No. 601, Huangpu Da Dao Xi, Guangzhou, 510632, People’s Republic of China

    Ling Zhao & Gang Lu

  4. Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia

    Qiming Yu

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  1. Jiandi Zhao
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  2. Pinghe Yin
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  3. Ling Zhao
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  5. Gang Lu
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Correspondence to Pinghe Yin or Ling Zhao.

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Zhao, J., Yin, P., Zhao, L. et al. Spatial and Seasonal Variations of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in Surface Water and Sediment in Pearl River Delta. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 95, 298–303 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1590-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-015-1590-9

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