One-century sedimentary record, sources, and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Dianchi Lake, China.

Xiaohua Ma,Shuaidong Li,Hao Yang,Changchun Huang,Tao Huang

doi:10.1007/s11356-022-18497-4

Abstract

In this study, the sedimentary records, sources, and ecological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Dianchi Lake were analyzed. The concentrations of ΣPAH16 in the sediments of Dianchi Lake ranged from 368 to 990ng/g, with an average value of 572ng/g, peaking in 1988. Economic development, rapid population growth, and rapid growth of coal consumption have a greater impact on the HMW (high molecular weight) PAHs than on the LMW (low molecular weight) PAHs in the sedimentary environment. The results of the diagnostic ratios and PCA (principal component analysis) model show that the main sources of PAHs were coal and biomass combustion, as well as the fossil fuel combustion in individual years. The risk assessment results showed that the PAH concentrations in the sediment were within a safe range. In the past 100years of sediment pore water, other 2-3 ring LMW PAHs were within a safe range (except for Phe, which reached chronic toxic pollution levels in some years). With an increase in industrialization and urbanization, the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum has increased, and some of the 4-6 ring HMW PAHs have reached chronic toxicity or even acute toxicity in the sediment pore water.

Highlights

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that exist in different environmental media (Gregg et al, 2015; Lu et al, 2012; Sandro et al, 2018; Walker et al, 2005)
The concentration ranges of ΣPAH16 in the sediments of Dianchi Lake were [368–990] ng/g, with an average value of 572 ng/g, peaking in 1988
The results of the diagnostic ratios and Principal component analysis (PCA) model show that the main sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were coal and biomass combustion, as well as fossil fuel combustion sources in individual years

Summary

Introduction

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that exist in different environmental media (Gregg et al, 2015; Lu et al, 2012; Sandro et al, 2018; Walker et al, 2005). PAHs can originate from natural processes such as forest fires (Freeman and Catell 1990; Ma et al, 2020), volcanic eruptions (Kim et al, 2003; Morillo et al, 2007; Ma et al, 2018), and diagenesis of organic matter in oxygen-deficient sediments (Baumard et al, 1998; Van et al, 2000). Human activities such as garbage incineration (Mastral and Callén, 2000), fossil fuel combustion (Blumer and Youngblood, 1975; Ma et al, 2021b), and wood burning for household heating and cooking (Lima et al, 2005; Zhang et al, 2007) are generally considered to be the main source of PAHs entering the environment (Viguri et al, 2002). PAHs have attracted worldwide attention due to their potential carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and teratogenicity, as well as their persistence in the environment and possible health risks (Han et al, 2019; Jia et al, 2021; Meyer et al, 2011)

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Conclusion