[Spatial distribution and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in partial surface sediments of Liaohe...

Nineteen surface sediment samples were collected from Liaohe River and analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with GC-MS. The concentrations of 15 detected PAH compounds ranged from 123.5 to 21 233.4 ng x g(-1) in dry season with the average concentration was 3208.1 ng x g(-1); and were 37.9 to 9014.0 ng x g(-1) in wet season with the average concentration was 1612.0 ng x g(-1). The isomeric ratio method using characteristic compounds of PAHs for source analysis, and the main source was attributed to fuel combustion. Average commercial use of sediment quality benchmarks (mSQG-Q) on the PAHs risk assessment of Liaohe Basin was applied, fluorene and pyrene showed the potential of low-level ecological effects. In wet season, Fushun segment L3-1 points have a higher ecological risk. In dry season, Shenyang segment L1-1 point, Fushun segment L3-1 point and L3-2 point pose a strong negative effect.