Pollution and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Rivers in a Northeastern Chinese City: Implications for Continuous Rainfall Events

Guangyi Mu, Dejun Bian (), Min Zou (), Xuege Wang and Fangfang Chen
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Guangyi Mu: Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Municipal Wastewater Treatment, Changchun Institute of Technology, Changchun 130012, China
Dejun Bian: Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Municipal Wastewater Treatment, Changchun Institute of Technology, Changchun 130012, China
Min Zou: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Xuege Wang: Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Municipal Wastewater Treatment, Changchun Institute of Technology, Changchun 130012, China
Fangfang Chen: Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment of Education Ministry, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Most studies have concentrated on the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air, water, and soil; however, little is known about their behavior during urban wet deposition. During frequent urban rainstorms, surface runoff carries large amounts of organic pollutants into water, which has a significant impact on the quality of the water environment. “Poseidon” made landfall in Jilin Province on 27 August, 3 September, and 7 September 2020, respectively, causing some impact on the surface water. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to measure the concentrations of 16 major PAHs in stormwater and water samples from the Yitong River. The PAH concentrations in rainwater runoff gradually decreased with increasing rainfall duration. The PAHs in the Yitong River water samples were mainly composed of two to three rings, with total concentrations ranging 279.19–756.37 ng/L. Ratio characterization and principal component analysis of the sources of PAHs in the water samples revealed that some water bodies had also been contaminated by oil spills in addition to combustion emissions from coal and motor vehicle oil. Health and environmental risks were assessed for PAHs in water bodies from the Yitong River, and health risk assessment showed that exposure to PAHs in the water is not a health risk for human beings; however, the risk for children is higher than that for adults and requires attention. Although the environmental risk is moderate, the risk from Benzo(a)anthracene(BaA) alone is high and requires ongoing attention. In terms of the sustainability of drinking water sources, consideration should be given to taking necessary regulatory and protective measures to prevent further contamination. These results serve as a guide for managing PAHs in urban water bodies and managing water pollution.

Keywords: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; typhoons; Yitong River; source analysis; boulder risk evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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