Distribution, sources and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the estuarine–coastal sediments in the East China Sea

Human-induced catchment changes have affected the sedimentary processes in marginal seas, which will impact the transport and burial processes of materials and inevitably impact marine biogeochemical cycles. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from the East China Sea (ECS) at two time nodes (2006 and 2018) were compared to understand the response of PAHs to human-induced catchment changes. PAH concentrations in the ECS ranged from 8&#8211;414 ng g-1 (dry weight), with a mean value of 112&#177;77 ng g-1, relatively lower than that in 2006 (38&#8211;308 ng g-1, with a mean of 122&#177;60 ng g-1). Sharp decreases in sediment loads have triggered erosion in subaqueous delta and changed the distribution of sediment components, which may eventually influence the distribution pattern of PAHs. The obvious spatial differentiation of PAHs between 2006 and 2018 suggested that the depositional center of PAHs shifted from the estuary to the inner shelf area. PAH deposition patterns in the ECS were primarily influenced by riverine input before 2006, but are now dominated by winnowing processes related to long-distance transport due to sharply decreased sediment loads. Dam construction in the river catchment intercepted large amounts of sediments and PAHs, shifting the Changjiang-derived PAH depositional center from the ocean to reservoirs. Overall, depositional patterns of PAHs in the ECS were largely altered by human-induced catchment changes, which may cause significant impacts on the region&#8217;s biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem health.

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Spatial and temporal distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in finegrained sediments of the East China Sea

Chinese Journal of Geochemistry ◽

10.1007/bf02839747 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 25 (S1) ◽

pp. 8-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zhigang Guo ◽

Tian Lin ◽

Zongyan Zhang ◽

Gan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

East China Sea ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

East China ◽

Spatial And Temporal Distribution ◽

The East China Sea ◽

China Sea ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic

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Temporal Variations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Seawater at Tsukumo Bay, Noto Peninsula, Japan, during 2014–2018

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17030873 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 873 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tetsuya Matsunaka ◽

Seiya Nagao ◽

Mutsuo Inoue ◽

Rodrigo Mundo ◽

Ning Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

East China Sea ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Japan Sea ◽

East China ◽

The East China Sea ◽

China Sea ◽

The Japan Sea ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

The Impact

Concentrations of phase-partitioning 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater were investigated in the Tsukumo Bay, Noto Peninsula, Japan, during 2014–2018, to improve the understanding of the environmental behavior of PAHs in the coastal areas of the Japan Sea. Total PAH (particulate plus dissolved) concentrations in surface seawater were in the range 0.24–2.20 ng L−1 (mean 0.89 ng L−1), an order of magnitude lower than the mean values observed in the Japan Sea in 2008 and 2010. Although the PAH contamination levels during 2014–2018 were significantly lower than those in the East China Sea, the levels increased from 2014 to 2017 and were maintained at the higher level during 2017–2018. The main sources of particulate and dissolved PAHs during 2014–2018 were combustion products, of which the former were more influenced by liquid fossil-fuel combustion and the latter by biomass or coal combustion. The increase in particulate PAH concentrations in October–December during 2014–2018 was due to the impact of PAH-rich airmasses transported from the East Asian landmass in the northwesterly winter monsoon winds. The increase in dissolved PAH levels during July–September in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 indicates that the Tsukumo Bay is possibly impacted by the PAH-rich summer continental shelf water transported by the Coastal Branch of the Tsushima Warm Current, which flows into the Japan Sea from the East China Sea.

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