Variations in the concentration, inventory, source, and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of the Lake Chaohu

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2024-04, Vol.201, p.116188-116188, Article 116188
• Main Authors: Tian, Hao-Ran, Zhang, Xi-Tao, Zhao, Li-Li, Peng, Shu-Chuan, Wang, Ji-Zhong, Chen, Yi-Han
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ecological risk assessment; Improved S-T model; Lake Chaohu; PAHs; Sediment; Source composition
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116188

In this study, the ecological risk assessment of PAHs pollution, the existing S-T model was improved and applied to this PAHs pollution assessment in surface sediment in Lake Chaohu. The potential sources and contributions of PAHs in the surface sediment were estimated by molecular diagnostic ratio (MDR) and positive matrix factorization (PMF). The results showed that the average concentration of 16 priority PAHs in the surface sediment was 718.16 ng/g in 2009 and 334.67 ng/g in 2020. In 2020, PAHs concentration has decreased compared to 2009 and the dominant composition has changed from high- to low-molecular-weight PAHs. The estimated PAHs mass inventory of the top 2 cm surface sediment was 2712 tons in 2009 and 1263 tons in 2020. Ecosystem risk assessment by improved S-T models suggested that the overall ecosystem risk of the studied regions was acceptable. [Display omitted] •An improved S-T model is proposed by further investigation of set-pair and triangular fuzzy number.•The concentration and mass inventory of total PAHs in surface sediments of Lake Chaohu in 2009 and 2020 is proposed.•Medium and high ring PAHs dominated both 2009 and 2020, the difference is that the highest single PAHs content was different in 2009 and 2020, BghiP and Flo,respectively.•It is found that PAHs pollution has been effectively curbed through a series of strong protection policies.