Abstract
The aims of the study were to investigate the concentration, sources and ecological risk of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in bottom sediments collected from nine reservoirs located in south-eastern Poland. The concentration of ∑PAHs in sediments ranged from 150 to 33,900 μg kg−1. The total PAH concentration in the bottom sediments was arranged in the following order: Rybnik > Rzeszów > Brzóza Królewska > Brzóza Stadnicka > Besko > Chechło > Ożanna > Głuchów > Narożniki. BAP was the major compound in sediments from the Besko, Brzóza Stadnicka and Rzeszów reservoirs; FLT in the sediments from the Rybnik, Narożniki, Ożanna and Brzóza Królewska reservoirs; and FLN from the Głuchów and Chechło reservoirs. The major inputs of PAHs were of pyrolytic origin. However, petrogenic sources of PAHs occurred especially in the Chechło and Głuchów reservoirs. The ecological risk assessment indicated that non-adverse effects on the benthic fauna may occur for sediments from the Głuchów, Narozniki and Ożanna reservoirs, while slightly adverse effects were found for sediments from the Brzóza Królewska, Besko, Brzóza Stadnicka and Chechło reservoirs. The other sediments showed moderate (Rzeszów reservoirs) and strong effect (Rybnik reservoir) on biological communities. Individual PAHs such as NAP, PHE, FLT, PYR, BAA, CHR and BAP in sediments from the Rybnik reservoir and BAP in sediments from the Rzeszów reservoirs indicated a higher possibility of occurrence of an adverse ecological effect. PCA analysis found slight difference between the reservoirs in the profile of variable PAHs. Only the sediments from the Rybnik and Chechło reservoirs differ considerably from this grouping.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are composed of two or more fused aromatic rings and belong to persistent organic pollutants
In the bottom sediments collected from the Narożniki, Brzóza Królewska and Brzóza Stadnicka, Ożanna and Chechło reservoirs, the sand fraction was dominant
Non-adverse effects on the benthic fauna were shown for sediments from the Głuchów, Narozniki and Ożanna reservoirs, while slightly adverse effects were found for sediments from the Brzóza Królewska, Besko, Brzóza Stadnicka and Chechło reservoirs
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are composed of two or more fused aromatic rings and belong to persistent organic pollutants Pyrogenic PAHs are mainly detected in incomplete combustion of organic compounds, such as fossil fuels (heating oil, coal, grass and wood combustion, vehicle emissions, waste tire) (Yan et al 2009; Liu et al 2009; Khairy et al 2009; Tavakoly Sany et al 2014; Wang et al 2016). The main sources of atmospheric PAHs are a direct result of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis under reduced conditions of mineral fuel, wood, paper, other hydrocarbons and vehicle emissions. These compounds have low water solubility, less volatility, high lipid solubility and high persistence. There have been few studies on PAH concentration in sediments in Polish water reservoirs
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