This study reviewed the spatial and temporal distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during 2000-2010 in inland sediments of China and quantified the underlying socioeconomic determinants based on the structural equation model and gravity model. We found that PAHs concentrations in the sediments of eight different regions followed the order of Northern coast>Northeast>Eastern coast>Southern coast>Middle Yellow River>Middle Yangtze River>Southwest>Northwest. The Southern coast, Middle Yangtze River, and Southern coast regions showed large contributions to the high-molecular weight PAHs, whereas the Northeast, Northwest, and Middle Yellow River regions showed high contributions to the low-molecular weight PAHs. PAHs concentrations continuously increased from the year 2000 followed by a gradual decline after 2006, with significant differences in the year when PAHs levels reached their peak. PAHs concentrations of sediment in developed regions declined in recent years following a continuous increase in the 2000s; however, they still increased rapidly in developing regions owing to fast economic development. In addition, the increment rate of PAHs concentrations in sediment at the remote or less-developed regions was slower than that at the developed regions. Urbanization and industrialization had an important effect on PAHs in the sediments, and the largest influencing factor was the economic development.
Keywords: Bayesian estimation; gravity model; inland sediment; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); socio-economic factors.