Distribution and deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in precipitation in Guangzhou, South China.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in precipitation from March to August 2005 in Guangzhou, South China. Fourteen PAHs were studied, and their total concentrations varied from 616.6 to 3486.7 ng/L in dissolved phase and from 403.8 to 3125.5 ng/L in particulate phase. The estimated deposition loading of PAHs was 3568 microg/m2 during the monitoring period. The deposition of PAHs was a potential source for Pearl River comparing with the contents of surface water. In addition, the high concentration in precipitation here implied that PAHs pollution was a potential environmental problem in Guangzhou. Most precipitation concentrations of PAHs in March (the last month in winter in Guangzhou) were higher than in the other months (in rainy season). PAHs inclined to be adsorbed to particulate phase with the increase of molecular weight in rainwater. Combustion of fossil fuel and biomass might be the major source of PAHs, while the direct leakage or volatilization from petroleum products might be insignificant.
Huang
Deyin
D
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China. anhuihdy@163.com
Peng
Ping'an
P
Xu
Yigang
Y
Deng
Yunyun
Y
Deng
Hongmei
H
D002681:China; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons
D011083:Polycyclic Compounds