title: Origins of suspended particulate matter based on sterol distribution in low salinity water mass observed in the offshore East China Sea.
abstract: The molecular composition and distribution of sterols were investigated in the East China Sea to identify the origins of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in offshore waters influenced by Changjiang River Diluted Water (CRDW). Total sterol concentrations ranged from 3200 to 31,900pgL(-1) and 663 to 5690pgL(-1) in the particulate and dissolved phases, respectively. Marine sterols dominated representing 71% and 66% in the particulate and dissolved phases, respectively. Typical sewage markers, such as coprostanol, were usually absent at ~250km offshore. However, sterols from allochthonous terrestrial plants were still detected at these sites. A negative relationship was observed between salinity and concentrations of terrestrial sterols in SPM, suggesting that significant amounts of terrestrial particulate matter traveled long distance offshore in the East China Sea, and the Changjiang River Diluted Water (CRDW) was an effective carrier of land-derived particulate organic matter to the offshore East China Sea.
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Moonkoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jee-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yongnu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gi Myeong
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Jeju International Marine Science Research and Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 2670 Iljudong-ro, Jeju 63349, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taehee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Un Hyuk
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Joon
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: South Sea Environment Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Lim
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Faculty of Environmental Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: drnkannan@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Narayanan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kannan
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D054712:Salinity; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D013261:Sterols / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D013261:Sterols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: East China Sea; Lipid biomarkers; River plume ecosystem; Sterols; Suspended particulate matter