title: Distribution, sources and potential toxicological significance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface soils of the Yellow River Delta, China.
abstract: PAH concentrations of 61 surface soil samples collected from the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China were measured to determine occurrence levels, sources, and potential toxicological significance of PAHs. The total concentrations of ∑PAHs ranged from 27 to 753 ng/g d.w., with a mean of 118±132 ng/g. The highest concentrations was found in the mid-southern part of the YRD (753 ng/g), which was associated with the oil exploration. The ratios indicated that the PAHs throughout the YRD were mostly of pyrogenic origin; while various sites in mid-southern part in the region were derived mainly from the petrogenic sources. Multivariate statistical analyses supported that the PAHs in surface soils of the YRD were principally from the coal and biomass combustion, petroleum spills, and/or vehicular emissions. The toxic assessment suggested that the PAHs in soils were at low potential of ecotoxicological contamination level for the YRD.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geologic Survey, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, CGS, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao 266071, China; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Hongming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China. Electronic address: tgli@qdio.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Tiegang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geologic Survey, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, CGS, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Xigui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geologic Survey, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, CGS, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Guangming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geologic Survey, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, CGS, Ministry of Land and Resources, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Siyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: PAHs; PCA; Pollution; Soils; Toxic assessment; Yellow River Delta