title: Spatial distribution and source apportionment of PAHs in surficial sediments of the Yangtze Estuary, China.
abstract: Spatial distribution and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface sediments of the Yangtze Estuary, especially the North Branch, have been fully investigated. PAH concentrations increased with the descending distance from the inner estuary to the adjacent sea, and varied significantly in various estuarine regions. Water currents (e.g., river runoff and ocean current) greatly affected the distribution pattern. In addition, ambient sewage and traffic also contributed to the PAH pollution in the estuary. In the adjacent sea, PAH values along the -20m isobath were higher than those along the -10m isobath due to the "marginal filter" phenomenon formed by different water currents. In most sites, PAHs had poor correlations with sediment size, but had positive correlations with total organic carbon. Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis results, PAH sources were proved to be mainly from a mixture of petroleum combustion, biomass, and coal combustion.
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Baohua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chenghong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yaxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Zhenyao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical