Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the dated sediments from the Shuanglong catchment in the southwest of China were measured to characterize source inputs. The PAHs concentrations in the priority controlling list of US EPA (∑PAHs) ranged within 102.47~563.24 ng g−1, with an average value of 207.18 ng g−1. The 2-3 rings PAHs were predominant, accounting for 73.77% of ∑PAH. According to the classification of pollution levels, ∑PAHs concentrations in the sediments are within the range of moderate pollution level. Both the total and individual PAH concentrations changed with the depth. The profile distribution of PAHs concentration in the sediments suggested that PAHs acted as an effective way to reconstruct the historical trends of socioeconomic changes in the study areas. Results of Ant/(Ant + Phe), Fla/(Fla + Pyr), and BaA/(BaA + Chry) show that petroleum and petrogenic matter are attributed to the potential pollution source in the Shuanglong catchment. The coal combustion and incomplete combustion of gasoline and fossil fuel are dominant. TOC contents had positive correlation with ∑PAHs (R2=0.72, P<0.001), 2-3 rings (R2=0.44, P<0.001), 4-ring (R2=0.78, P<0.001), and 5-6 rings (R2=0.62, P<0.001).
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are classical persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
As a result of their low solubility and hydrophobicity, PAHs can be absorbed by fine particulates once they get into the aquatic environment and accumulate in the sediments with deposition
Results of this study show relatively low concentration in the Shuanglong catchment
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are classical persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They are pervasive in the environmental medias, including atmosphere, soil, sediments, plants, and human bodies [1,2,3,4]. They have the characteristics of being carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic. As a result of their low solubility and hydrophobicity, PAHs can be absorbed by fine particulates once they get into the aquatic environment and accumulate in the sediments with deposition. Lake sediments and organic matter (OM) are considered as the main fate of PAHs [7, 8]. PAHs in the sediments are primarily associated with OM which plays an essential role in affecting the distribution of PAHs [9, 10]
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