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Spatial and temporal distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of Taihu Lake, eastern China

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Abstract

Spatial and temporal distributions of concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments and dated sediment core from Taihu Lake in eastern China were determined. The sum of concentrations of PAHs (sum of total 16 USEPA priority PAH (∑PAHs)) of the entire Taihu Lake ranged from 2.9 × 102 to 8.4 × 102 ng/g dry mass (dm). Concentrations of ∑PAHs in surface sediments near more urbanized regions of the lake shore were greater than those in areas more remote from the urban centers. Temporal trends in concentrations of ∑PAHs ranged from 5.1 × 102 to 1.5 × 103 ng/g dm, increasing from deeper layers to surface sediments with some fluctuations, especially in the past three decades after the inception of China’s Reform and Opening Up Policy, in which China’s economy and urbanization underwent rapid development. Forensic analysis of surface sediments indicates that PAHs originated primarily from combustion of grass/wood/coal except for the special function water area, which was most likely influenced by petroleum products of traveling vessels. Vertical profiles of relative concentrations of PAHs suggested that the contribution of lesser-molecular-weight PAHs was gradually decreasing, while due to the heavier consumption of petroleum products, the proportion of greater-molecular-weight PAHs was increasing. When assessed by use of the rather conservative, apparent effect threshold method, concentrations of ∑PAHs in sediments from most locations in Taihu Lake are predicted to pose little risk of harm to benthic invertebrates.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financed by the Natural Science Foundation of China (41222026, 21007063, 41130743). Prof. Giesy was supported by the program of 2012 “High Level Foreign Experts” (#GDW20123200120) funded by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, People’s Republic of China, to Nanjing University and the Einstein Professor Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was also supported by the Canada Research Chair program, a Visiting Distinguished Professorship in the Department of Biology and Chemistry and State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Zhi Tang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, and State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Zhi Tang, Haiqing Liao, Xiaoli Zhao, Fengchang Wu, Yuanrong Zhu & Liang Zhang

  3. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Jianyang Guo

  4. Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    John P. Giesy

  5. Department of Biology and Chemistry and State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    John P. Giesy

  6. School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    John P. Giesy

  7. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    John P. Giesy

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  1. Zhi Tang
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Correspondence to Xiaoli Zhao or Fengchang Wu.

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Tang, Z., Guo, J., Liao, H. et al. Spatial and temporal distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of Taihu Lake, eastern China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 5350–5358 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3746-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3746-2

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