Ecological risk assessment of parent and halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from an urban river in south China

Abstract

In the present study, 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Σ(16) PAHs), including seven carcinogenic PAHs (Σ(7) PAHs) designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in surface sediment from an urban river (Shenzhen, south China) were measured. The concentrations of Σ(16) PAHs and Σ(7) PAHs ranged from 27.92 to 7409 ng/g and 0.53 to 2326 ng/g, respectively. Source appointments indicated that the PAHs in surface sediments were mainly derived from coal combustion (36.6%), oil spills (22.2%), vehicle emission (19.5%), and waste incineration (12.1%). The ecological risks posed by PAHs and several halogenated PAHs in these sediment samples were assessed using two redefined guidelines incorporating the toxic equivalency quotients (TEQs) of individual PAH congeners: (1) TEQs effect range-low, and (2) TEQs effect range-median. The authors' results suggested that the PAHs they measured in most of the sediments in this urban river would not cause acute biological effects. On the contrary, the ecological risk posed by some halogenated PAHs was much higher than that of their corresponding parent PAHs. Finally, the relationships between PAH levels and catchment urbanization processes were examined. The results indicated that rapid urbanization has led to an obvious increase in PAH contamination in surface sediments.

Source contributions and spatiotemporal characteristics of PAHs in sediments: Using three‐way source apportionment approach

“…Additionally, PAHs have been listed as priority pollutants by international environmental protection agencies because of their environmental concern and health risk as potential carcinogens and mutagens [3]. They easily accumulate in various environmental systems, including sediments, which tend to adsorb PAHs [4,5].…”

“…Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are important persistent organic pollutants (POPs), are widespread in the environment [1,2] because of their persistence and longrange transport capability. Additionally, PAHs have been listed as priority pollutants by international environmental protection agencies because of their environmental concern and health risk as potential carcinogens and mutagens [3]. They easily accumulate in various environmental systems, including sediments, which tend to adsorb PAHs [4,5].…”

Distribution, sources, and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the water and suspended sediments from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China

“…They have a range of physicochemical properties. Many PAHs are dangerous to ecosystems and human health due to their toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity (Zhang and Tao 2009;Sun et al 2012). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) identified 16 PAHs as high priority pollutants (Qiao et al, 2006).…”

Physically constrained source apportionment (PCSA) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon using the Multilinear Engine 2-species ratios (ME2-SR) method

“…The obtained source profiles and contributions of the four factors are presented in Tables S4 and 2, respectively. The first factor was heavily loaded on NaP and Fln compared to those in other factors, indicating that factor 1 might be identified as oil combustion (Sun et al, 2012). Factor 2 was dominated by Ant, representing wood combustion (Harrison et al, 1996).…”