title: National investigation of semi-volatile organic compounds (PAHs, OCPs, and PCBs) in lake sediments of China: Occurrence, spatial variation and risk assessment.
abstract: In this study, a large scale investigation of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in sediments from 52 lakes, located in five geographic regions across China, was conducted to assess sediment quality in terms of organic contaminants. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediment were found to range between 17.00-6,633, 0.12-45.24, and 0.03-13.99ngg-1, respectively. Lake sediments from different regions exhibited variation in contamination levels, and in the compositions of isomers. The descending order of contamination levels for the three SVOCs groups (i.e., ∑PAHs, ∑OCPs, ∑PCBs) were as follows: the eastern plain region (EPR)>the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau (YGP)>the northeast China region (NCR)>the Qinghai-Tibet plateau (QTP)>the Mongolia-Xinjiang plateau (MXP). High molecular weight PAHs, OCPs and PCBs were found at high concentrations in parts of the EPR and YGP, while lighter isomers were likely to be atmospherically transported, resulting in their nationwide distribution. The sources and type variation (local input or atmospheric deposition) are the primary controls of spatial variation. Additionally, human related socio-economic factors, and geographic conditions also played important roles in influencing the spatial differentiation. According to simple sediment quality guidelines (SQG), the risks posed by PCBs in sediments were not as serious as those posed by PAHs and DDT.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chaocan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: huoshouliang@126.com.
authors.forename: Shouliang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Beidou
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Yeager
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhuoshi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunzi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingtian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fengchang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Human impact; Risk assessment; SVOCs; Spatial variation; Toc