Abstract
To study the spatial occurrence, sources, and ecological risks of 16 PAHs, surface sediments had been collected from seven major areas of Taihu Lake, China in April 2021. Results showed that the concentrations of ∑16PAHs varied between 1381.48 and 4682.16 ng g−1, and the contents of BghiP in each sample were the highest. The PAHs concentrations in the sediments near the lakeshore were much higher than those in the central area of the lake. The sedimentary ∑16PAHs were mainly composed of molecular-weight monomers and 4-ring PAHs showed superiority (35.69–45.02%). According to the ratio of PAH monomer, the sedimentary PAHs in Taihu Lake were dominantly derived from the combustion. Through the biological toxicity assessment and the BaP equivalent (BaPE), great biological risks of PAHs monomers i.e. DahA and IcdP were found. Both concentrations of ∑16PAHs and dominant 4–6-ring monomers accompanied by carcinogenic risks in many areas of Taihu Lake increased. It is necessary to strengthen monitoring and take measures to control the input of organic pollutants.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are typical persistent organic pollutants, which have mutagens, carcinogens, teratogens, and gene toxins, and exist in different environmental media for a long time[1–3]
The concentration in the northern Taihu Lake was higher than that in the south, and the surrounding concentration was higher than the central region, which mainly depended on the anthropogenic activities, i.e., industrial and agricultural development around the area[34]
The distributions of PAHs around the basin were higher than those in the central areas of the lake indicating the high frequency of anthropogenic activities, high economic and development levels in the lake area
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are typical persistent organic pollutants, which have mutagens, carcinogens, teratogens, and gene toxins, and exist in different environmental media for a long time[1–3]. PAHs in the aquatic environment may be derived from fuels, incomplete combustion, bioorganic metabolism, and the transformation process in sediment[5]. Fuels and incomplete combustion were anthropogenic-driven, an important contributor to PAHs pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Whether the concentration of PAHs in the Taihu Lake Basin exceeded the standard and whether it posed a health threat to the surrounding population had received widespread attention[16–18]. Since 2000, the concentration of PAHs in the sediments of the Taihu Lake Basin had ranged between 698.00 and 962.00 ng g−1, after 209.00–3842.00 ng g−1 in 2010, and gradually changed to 4900.00–16,800.00 ng g−1 in 202119–21, showing a continuous upward trend. It is imminent to study the concentration, source and carcinogenic risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments of Taihu Lake in the near future. The aims of this study were to (1) quantify 16 PAHs in the sediments of different lake areas in Taihu Lake by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), (2) explore the occurrence and origins of PAHs in sediments of various-type zones; (3) assess the potential ecological and carcinogenic risks of different PAHs species in Taihu Lake
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