Levels, sources and potential risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in multimedia environment along the Jinjiang River mainstream to Quanzhou Bay, China

- We monitor the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in multiple compartments.
- PAHs are determined between the continent and adjacent bay.
- We discuss the potential sources of PAHs by positive matrix factorization model.
- We discuss the correlations of PAHs between different media to find transport.
- We assess the potential toxicity and biological risk of PAHs in the study area.

This study investigated the levels, sources and potential risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil, water (dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter) and sediment along the Jinjiang River mainstream to Quanzhou Bay. The distribution coefficient of ΣPAHs varied disorderly along the Jinjiang River, indicating the non-equilibrium status for the partition. The various distribution features of ΣPAHs in the sediments of the north and south coast of Quanzhou Bay were probably due to the flow motions in the bay. High correlations of PAHs were found between different media, suggesting the approximately same source of PAHs. Furthermore, three source factors and their contributions were extracted using the positive matrix factorization model. Toxicity and biological risk were assessed using toxic equivalent quantity and sediment quality guideline quotient. The contamination of PAHs in the soil and sediments may turn to unconspicuous risks for the environment and humans except very few sites with moderate pollution.