Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediment from Yangpu Bay, China: Distribution, sources and risk assessment

Mar Pollut Bull. 2015 Oct 15;99(1-2):312-9. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.07.039. Epub 2015 Jul 22.

Abstract

The study investigated the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface sediment from eleven sites in Yangpu Bay, China in December 2013 (winter) and July 2014 (summer). The 16 US EPA priority PAHs were found in the range of 1583.2-5701.7 ng/g dry weights with an average of 3134.7 ± 1241.3 ng/g in winter and ranged from 2161.8 to 4527.2 ng/g with an average of 3016.6 ± 748.0 ng/g in summer, respectively. The concentrations of the PAHs tended to be relatively high in comparison with other areas from the literatures. The identification using molecular indices analysis indicated that the PAHs originated mainly from pyrogenic and petrogenic sources in most of the sites. According to principle component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA/MLR) for their source apportionment, the main sources of PAHs were vehicle emissions, petroleum products and biomass combustion. The risk assessment using international sediments quality guidelines and sediments quality criteria indicated that several PAHs, such as Nap, Flu, Phe, Ace, Acy and BghiP in most of the sites would potentially affect organisms in Yangpu Bay.

Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Risk assessment; Sediment; Sources; Yangpu Bay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bays
  • China
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Linear Models
  • Petroleum / analysis
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / chemistry
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry

Substances

  • Petroleum
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical