title: Seasonal changes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in response to hydrology and anthropogenic activities in the Pearl River estuary, China.
abstract: The behaviours of PAHs (containing 2-6 aromatic rings) in the Pearl River estuary were examined each month in 2011. This study was designed to investigate the abundance of 16 priority PAHs and their response to the seasonal dynamics of anthropogenic activities and hydrological cycles. Monthly mean concentrations of ∑16PAHs in water and suspended particulate matter (SPM) were 88.31ng/L and 252.31ng/L respectively, with higher concentrations in the wet season (April to September). Heavy precipitation in the wet season resulted in relatively increased PAH input via riverine discharges and atmospheric deposition. Seasonal variations in suspended sediment concentration (SSC), temperature and salinity have considerably affected the PAH phase association. Higher SSC in the wet season contributed to higher concentration of the PAHs in SPM, and higher temperature and lower salinity facilitated desorption from SPM. The PAH sources were largely attributed to vehicular emissions, coal combustion and coke ovens.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou 510275, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, Guangzhou 510275, China. Electronic address: liufeng198625@126.com.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou 510275, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, Guangzhou 510275, China. Electronic address: xiaoxia3623@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou 510275, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou 510275, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou 510275, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou 510275, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Estuarine Hydraulic Technology, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Qingshu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D062070:Hydrology; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers; D012621:Seasons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Anthropogenic activities; Estuarine behaviours; Hydrological cycles; Pearl River estuary; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons