Spatial distribution, emission source and health risk of parent PAHs and derivatives in surface soils from the Yangtze River Delta, eastern China.
243 surface soil samples were collected from the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, and the concentration distributions and compositional profiles of 27 parent PAHs (PPAHs), nitro- and oxy-derivatives (NPAHs and OPAHs), respectively, and health risk of 16 PPAHs were determined. Atmospheric samples were collected at two sites with high topsoil concentrations of PAHs to assist in identifying the emission sources of PPAHs. The total concentrations of PPAHs, NPAHs and OPAHs fell in the ranges of 21.0-3563.2 ng/g, 0.4-4.6 ng/g and 2.1-834.1 ng/g, respectively. PPAHs in topsoil were dominated by low and medium molecular weight species. The main components of OPAHs were 9FO and ANQ. For NPAHs, only 1N-NAP was frequently detected. Overall, the northern parts of the YRD region were more heavily contaminated by PPAHs and their corresponding derivatives. The soil TOC fraction and GDP per capita were significantly correlated with the spatial distribution of PPAHs. Specific ratios of isomeric species and principal component analysis (PCA) designated combustion of industrial coal and biomass, and traffic exhaust as the main mixed emission sources of PPAHs in surface soils in this region. The detected NPAHs and OPAHs were significantly associated with the corresponding PPAHs. The estimated incremental lifetime cancer risk attributed to 16 PPAHs in surface soil was greater than 10-6, indicating a potential risk of contracting cancer by exposure to topsoil from the YRD region. The cumulative probability of cancer risk for both adults and children via three exposure pathways followed the sequence of dermal contact > ingestion > inhalation.
Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
ChuanYang
C
Cai
Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
JingYa
J
Li
Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Di
D
Wu
Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
XiLong
X
Wang
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Daniel C W
DC
Tsang
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
XiangDong
X
Li
Department of Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
JianTeng
J
Sun
Department of Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
LiZhong
L
Zhu
Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
HuiZhong
H
Shen
Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Shu
S
Tao
Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. Electronic address: wxliu@urban.pku.edu.cn.
WenXin
W
Liu
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D018533:Biomass; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity
D000393:Air Pollutants; D003031:Coal; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
Health risk; Occurrence; Parent PAHs and derivatives; Source; Surface soil; Yangtze River Delta