Abstract:

The mass contents of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface sediments of the second Songhua River were investigated. The total PAHs mass rate varied from 350.0 to 3 877.4 ng/g, with the mean value being 1 322.6 ng/g. The 4—6 rings PAHs made up 58.5%, whereas 2—3 rings PAHs made up 41.5%. The study shows that the mass content of PAHs was the highest in the surface sediments of the upstream of the second Songhua River. The total mass content of PAHs was close to that of the Yangtze River estuary. In addition to that from the source regions, the PAHs in the sedimen
ts were mainly from anthropogenic emission. Anthropogenically produced PAHs in the sediments in most of waters was from the burning of fossil fuels and a small part was from the petroleum derived. Exposure risk assessment results show that in addition to the fluorene and acenaphthylene, there was not obvious risk of exposure of other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The total mass content of PAHs in the sediments of the second Songhua River was much lower than the effects range\|low (ERL), and there was not obvious risk of exposure basically.

Key words: second Songhua River, surface sediment, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, exposure risk assessment