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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

A Modified QuEChERS-HPLC Method for Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Zebrafish Embryos Exposed to Fine Particulate Matter
Published on: June 13, 2025
Vertical migration from surface soils to groundwater and source appointment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in
Yuchuan Sun1, Siyu Zhang2, Jiacheng Lan3
1Chongqing Key Laboratory of Karst Environment, School of Geographical Sciences; Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Karst Dynamics Laboratory, Ministry of Land and Resources, Institute of Karst Geology, Guilin, 541004, China; Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States.
Abstract:
Understanding the transfer process of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the karst terrain is of great importance to their ecological risk assessments, however, the impact of the vertical transfer of the soil PAHs on the underground water is largely unknown in the karst system. Here, the vertical distribution and the seasonal variation of 16 PAHs in the soils and the water of 4 epikarst spring catchments in Southwest China were investigated. The total concentration of the PAHs ranged within 61-3285 ng g-1 in the soils, and 341-4969 ng L-1 in the spring water. The vertical distribution of the PAHs in soils varied with ring numbers and altitude of the catchment. PAHs concentrations were linearly related with the total organic carbon (TOC) at different depths in the catchments 563-783 m above the sea level (A.S.L.). However, no correlation with TOC was observed in the catchment of a high altitude (2090 m A.S.L.), because the large water flux led to the fast migration of the 2-3 rings PAHs in soils. The PAHs in soils and springs were mainly derived from the combustion of grass/wood/coal, closely related with the primary fossil fuels used in this area. This study demonstrate that the groundwater was heavily polluted by PAHs in the karst terrains of Southwest China, due to the vertical transfer of PAHs from the surface soils, and effective protection was urgently needed.
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