[Assessment of PCB pollution in spatial distribution and analysis of the PCB sources in sediments in China]

An assessment of the current state of pollution from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and PCBs spatial character in sediments are represented. The sources of PCBs and relative factors are also analyzed. Songhua River and Dalian Bay in Northeast, Baoding in Hebei Province, Ya-er Lake in Wuhan City, Pearl River and Taiwan Province in Southeast of China have relatively high level of PCBs, while most other regions have lower average concentrations of PCBs. Serious pollution of PCBs is found in some locations, most of which are harbors, industrial areas, the places where improper disposal of and leakage from PCB containers taken place Point source pollution is the common pattern of contamination, influenced primarily by local geographic, economic, management and historical factors, with Pearl River/Estuary as an example.