Distribution, sources and ecological risks of PAHs in sediment of Minjiang River in Fuzhou City
闽江福州段沉积物中多环芳烃的分布、来源及其生态风险

Fifteen PAHs in 37 surface sediment samples collected from Minjiang River in Fuzhou City were studied. The results showed that the total concentrations of 15 PAHs ranged from 241.5 ng·g-1 to 1310.8 ng·g-1 and the average was 630.9 ng·g-1. The concentration of total PAHs in sediments showed an obviously decreasing trend from upstream to downstream, with a sudden surge near the Fuzhou City. There was a significant positive correlation between organic matter content and total PAH concentration in sediment samples (r=0.58, p<0.01). Factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis showed that the major sources of PAHs in sediments were coal combustion (31.7%), diesel combustion (28.7%), gasoline combustion (25.2%) and petroleum leakage (14.5%). Petroleum combustion was the main source of PAHs in the sediments of Minjiang River in Fuzhou City. The ecological risk of PAHs was evaluated by the effects range median values (ERM), the effects range low values (ERL) and ERL average quotient. The results indicated that the concentration of Fluorene exceeded the guideline value (19 ng·g-1) in four sediment samples from Fuzhou reach of Minjiang River, implying certain ecological risks in these samples. The ERL values of other PAH isomers and total PAHs in all sediment samples were lower than the ERL guideline value.