Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from Yellow River Estuary and Yangtze River Estuary, China.
Surface sediment samples collected from twenty-one sites of Yellow River Estuary and Yangtze River Estuary were determined for sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by isotope dilution GC-MS method. The total PAH contents varied from 10.8 to 252 ng/g in Yellow River Estuary sediment, and from 84.6 to 620 ng/g in Yangtze River Estuary sediment. The mean total PAH content of Yangtze River Estuary was approximately twofold higher than that of Yellow River Estuary. The main reasons for the difference may be the rapid industrial development and high population along Yangtze River and high silt content of Yellow River Estuary. The evaluation of PAH sources suggested that PAHs in two estuaries sediments estuaries were derived primarily from combustion sources, but minor amounts of PAHs were derived from petroleum source in Yellow River Estuary. PAHs may be primary introduced to Yellow River Estuary via dry/wet deposition, wastewater effluents, and accidental oil spills, and Yangtze River Estuary is more prone to be affected by wastewater discharge.
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. huiyamei@163.com
Yamei
Y
Hui
Minghui
M
Zheng
Zhengtao
Z
Liu
Lirong
L
Gao
D002681:China; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons