Abstract
The analysis of PAHs in 14 surface sediments of tidal flats of the Yangtze Estuary showed that total PAHs concentration ranged from 0.263 to 6.372mg/kg. The contents of total PAHs varied dramatically with the sampling region. They are characterized by greatest content near sewage discharge point with trend to decrease by increasing distance. Petroleum-derived contamination may be dominant source in the study area, depending on the distributions of fluoranthene/pyrene and 2+3 ringed and 4 ringed PAHs compounds in surface sediments. The degree of sediment contamination by PAHs in study area is moderate/low in comparison with other internal and external estuarine and tidal flat surface sediments. However, anthracene and fluorene exceed the effects range low (ER-L) values, which might certain potential damage to the Yangtze tidal flat ecosystem.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 343-346 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Zhongguo Huanjing Kexue/China Environmental Science |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - 20 Aug 2001 |
Keywords
- Distribution
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Surface sediments
- The Yangtze Estuary