| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4424555 | Environmental Pollution | 2012 | 7 Pages |
Water samples collected from upstream tributaries of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and from locations within the PRD (South China) were analyzed for 27 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Average concentrations (aqueous plus particulate) of total 27 PAHs (Σ27PAH), 16 priority PAHs designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) except naphthalene (Σ15PAH), and the seven carcinogenic PAHs (Σ7PAH) classified by the USEPA were 260 ± 410, 130 ± 310, and 15 ± 12 ng/L, respectively. Riverine PAHs were predominantly generated from coal and vegetation combustion, coke production, vehicle exhausts, and petroleum residues, accounting for 28%, 25%, 22% and 21%, respectively, on average. Upstream riverine fluxes of Σ27PAH and Σ15PAH amounted to 38.9 and 12.9 tons/year, respectively. The net contributions of Σ27PAH and Σ15PAH from sources within the PRD were estimated at 21.4 and 21.0 tons/year, respectively.
► Upstream PAH levels were lower than downstream PAHs and pose low ecological risk. ► Riverine PAHs are predominantly pyrogenic. ► Parent PAHs in Pearl River are mainly derived from within the PRD. ► The 15 priority PAHs were mainly generated within the Pearl River Delta.
