Characterization and source apportionment of PAHs from a highly urbanized river sediments based on land use analysis

The city-scale land use/land cover change derived by urbanization on the fates of PAHs is of great concerns recently. This study evaluated spatiotemporal variations and sources of PAHs from a highly urbanized river sediments in the Huangpu River, Shanghai. Results indicated that the concentrations of PAHs in the sediments varied greatly across locations and seasons. The concentration of Σ₁₆PAHs in the dry season were 6 times higher than that in wet season. The mainstream and midstream of the Huangpu River were identified as the hotspots in both dry and wet seasons. However, 4-ring PAH compounds were dominated, contributing 42.41% ± 6.81% and 44.70 ± 7.73% in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Multivariate statistical and land use analysis suggested that the main sources of PAHs derived from the cultivation, traffic and commercial activities. Buffer radii (<750 m) area with cultivated land, road/street and transportation and commercial and business facilities contributed significantly the PAHs in the sediment of the Huangpu River. Population density was also an important variable regulating the PAHs concentrations less than 750 m in the wet season. Risk assessment results revealed that the PAHs toxicity in the sediments was higher in dry season than in wet season. Overall, severe land use changes caused by rapid urbanization can contribute more amount of PAHs emission and complicated sources of PAHs, thus provide insights into the importance of land use types in indicating PAHs source.