Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of Liaodong Bay, Bohai Sea, China.
METHODS
The levels and possible sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in the surface sediments of Liaodong Bay, Bohai Sea, China.


RESULTS
The sum of 16 PAHs (∑PAH(16)) concentrations varied from 144.5 to 291.7 ng/g, with a mean value of 184.7 ng/g, indicating low PAH levels compared with reported values for other bays and rivers in China and developed countries. High concentrations of PAHs were observed in the Luan River Estuary and in the vicinity of Qinhuangdao, implying that sewage from the Luan River and shipping activities are important sources of PAHs in Liaodong Bay.


CONCLUSIONS
An ecological risk assessment of PAHs, based on the effect range-low quotients, indicated that adverse biological effects caused by acenaphthene occasionally may take place in the sediments of Liaodong Bay. PAH source identification suggested that PAHs in most sediments were mainly from incomplete combustion of grass, wood, and coal. At other stations near the Luan River Estuary, both petrogenic and pyrogenic inputs were significant, and the petroleum-derived PAHs were mainly from shipping activities and discharge of pollutants via rivers.
Hu
Ningjing
N
Key Laboratory of Marine Sedimentology and Environmental Geology, First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, 266061, China. hningjing@163.com
Shi
Xuefa
X
Huang
Peng
P
Mao
Jian
J
Liu
Jihua
J
Liu
Ying
Y
Ma
Deyi
D
D000073:Acenaphthenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D056804:Biofuels / Q000009:adverse effects; D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
D000073:Acenaphthenes; D056804:Biofuels; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C042552:acenaphthene