Source apportionment of PAHs in surface sediments using positive matrix factorization combined with GIS for the estuarine area of the Yangtze River, China

- PMF and geostatistics were used to identify sources of PAHs.
- The high molecular weight PAHs with 4-6-ring accounted for major amount.
- A 3-factor result from PMF model gave the most satisfactory analysis.
- The impacted regions of 3 factors were analyzed by ordinary Kriging.

This study used PMF and geostatistics to quantify sources of PAHs based on 30 samples tested for 16 PAHs in surface sediment from the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) in February 2011. The results demonstrated that the total PAH concentrations varied from 65.07 to 954.52 ng g−1 with a mean value of 224.00 ng g−1. In the inner estuary, the mean of the total PAH concentrations was 229.89 ng g−1, and the high molecular weight of four-to-six-ring PAHs accounted for 51.83% of PAHs. In the adjacent East Sea, the mean value was 218.85 ng g−1 and the high molecular weight PAHs accounted for approximately 54% of total PAHs. A three-factor modeling result from PMF provided the most satisfactory analysis of PAH sources. Coke plant emissions and biomass combustion, which contributed 45.64% of the pollution, were the most important sources, and pollutants from these sources were primarily concentrated in the southern branch of the estuary. Gasoline fuel combustion accounted for approximately 40% of the pollution, and the major contaminated area was in the northern region. Petrogenic sources (14.70%) also influenced the estuary, especially in the northeastern region. Water currents and source locations affected the impacted regions of PMF factors; the surrounding natural and artificial influences were also considered.