As the largest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emission country, China is suffering from severe PAHs pollution. Twenty-eight lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region (MLYR), where numerous lakes are located in and play very important roles in the development of the local economy and society, were selected to investigate the levels and sources of the PAHs in this region and the related influence factors. Concentrations of the 16 PAHs (∑PAHs) in the sediments ranged from 221.0 to 2418.8 ng g(-1) (dry weight). The mean ∑PAHs was higher in the lower reaches than in the middle reaches. ∑PAHs in the sediments was positively correlated with the local gross domestic product (GDP), which implies that GDP was the key factor to affect the PAHs level in the sediments of study area. According to the composition of 16 PAHs, the 28 lakes were grouped into 3 clusters. Major PAHs sources for the three types of lakes were significantly different, which were biomass combustion, coal combustion, and vehicle/coal source, respectively. The total toxic benzo(a)pyrene equivalent (TEQ(carc)) of the carcinogenic PAHs in the sediments varied from 12.9 to 472.9 ng TEQ(carc) g(-1). Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DaA) were the two main contributors to total TEQ(carc).
Keywords: Lakes; PAHs; Source; Surface sediments; Yangtze River.