Distribution characteristics, sources, and ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from the Qinhuangdao coastal wetland, China

Sixteen USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Twenty-three samples were collected from the surface sediments of Qinhuangdao coastal wetlands in this survey. This research aimed to identify the PAHs contamination level, composition pattern, pollution sources, and assess the ecological risk of PAHs. The results showed that the sum of PAH concentrations ranged from 341.61 ng/g to 4703.80 ng/g (mean: 1367.80 ng/g), which is higher than the reported values for different wetlands worldwide. Five- and four-ring PAHs (34.08% and 32.97% of Sigma 16PAHs, severally) were predominant in the wetland sediment. The PAH source distribution in the surface sediments was determined using diagnostic ratio and PCA/MLR. Consequently, multiple PAH sources were found. Of the total PAHs, 70.01% was derived from vehicular emission, 25.73% from coke oven, and 4.26% from petroleum-based product spills. The effect range low/effect range median (ERL/ERM) values indicated a low toxicity risk level. However, the DBahA concentrations exceeded the ERL level, and even the ERM level, in some stations. The mean effects range-median quotient (M-ERM-Q) suggests a low ecological risk for the PAHs, but a medium risk for some stations in the coastal wetland sediments.