Distribution, sources and potential toxicological significance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in Guanting Reservoir sediments, China

The Guanting Reservoir lost its function as the second biggest drinking water source for Beijing due to the pollutions from the upstream flow of Yongding River in 1997. From 1998, lots of studies were carried out to renew the function of Guanting Reservoir as domestic drinking water source before 2008 Olympic Games. This is the first time that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the surface sediment of Guanting Reservoir have been analyzed. A distinctive spatial distribution of PAHs was observed. Sediments from four sites along Inlet of Yongding River to reservoir bam had PAHs concentrations of 1377-2855 microg/g dw in descending order. The composition of PAHs is investigated and used to assess petrogenic, combustion and naturally derived of the sediments samples of Guanting Reservoir. Special PAHs ratios, such as phenanthrene/anthracene (P/A) and fluoranthene/pyrene (FI/Pyr) were calculated to assess the relative importance of different origins. The data confirmed a relatively high level of petrogenic contamination in four sites. These high PAHs levels were associated with the input of untreated and partially treated industrial sewage. In addition, the concentrations of PAHs compounds of samples indicated that sediments of reservoir were most likely to pose potential biological impairment.