[Survey sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water of Hangzhou by K(OC)* values]

Abstract

Ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were simultaneously measured in 9 surface water samples of Qiantang River and Hangzhou Canal in Hangzhou, China, in December of 2002. It was observed that the sum of PAHs concentrations ranged from 1.104 to 9.663 microg x L(-1) in surface water, from 132.7 to 7343 microg x kg(-1) dry sediments, and from 59.71 to 219.5 microg x kg(-1) dry soils. The accumulative coefficients of PAHs in sediments and soils (K) and apparent partition coefficients normalized by solid organic carbon contents (K(OC)*) were calculated. In Hangzhou Canal, K and K(OC)* values in sediments increased with downstream, and ratio of K(OC)* on sediment to K(OC)* on soil were much larger than 1. Those indicated that Hangzhou Canal was heavily polluted by PAHs released from factory wastewater and PAHs in sediment were mainly sources of PAHs in surface water. In Qiantang River, K and K(OC)* values in sediments decreased with the downstream, and the ratio of K(OC)* on sediment to K(OC)* on soil near 1, and ratio fOC of sediment to fOC of soil approximate to 1, which showed that PAHs in Qiantang River were attributed to soil runoff.