Concentrations, Accumulation and Sources of PAHs in Surface Layer Sediments of Taizhou Bay.

Abstract

The concentrations, accumulation and sources of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) had been studied or evaluated in the surface layer sediments of Taizhou Bay, China. It showed that the concentrations of PAHs ranged from 85.4 to 167.6 ng/g (averaged 138.62 ng/g), and the highest level was found in Jiao Jiang Dock. Percentages of 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were 7.8 %, 42.1 %, 33.3 %, 9.6 % and 7.2 % respectively. The accumulation indices of PAHs ranged from 532.7 to 1068.9 (averaged 807.5), and the index of Phenanthrene was the highest (122.7), while that of Benzo (a) Pyrene was the lowest (2.7) among them. In Taizhou Bay, PAHs in surface layer sediments came mainly from coal burning, partly from direct pollution of petroleum hydrocarbons.