Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dustfall-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) over the fifth largest Chinese lake: residual levels, source apportionment, and correlations with suspended particulate matter (SPM)-bound PAHs in water

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Residual levels and temporal–spatial distribution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in dustfall were studied at the seasonal scale between June 2010 and May 2011 in the fifth largest shallow lake in China. PAHs flux of atmospheric deposition and the impact on the PAHs in the lake water column were estimated. The major sources of PAHs were identified by multiple methods. We found that (1) the seasonal residual levels of 16 priority controlled PAHs (PAH16) were spring (8.89 ± 3.93 μg g−1) > summer (6.68 ± 4.31 μg g−1) > winter (6.06 ± 2.95 μg g−1) > autumn (3.55 ± 2.21 μg g−1). (2) Significant positive correlations were found between the PAH levels in the dustfall and the suspended particle material (SPM) content, as well as between the deposition flux and the PAH content in the water in all four seasons. (3) Vehicle emissions, coal combustion, biomass combustion, and coke ovens were the four major sources in Lake Chaohu, accounting for 12.7%, 40.9%, 14.5%, and 31.9% of the total PAHs, respectively. (4) Compared to long-distance trajectories, short-distance trajectories played a more important role in the external sources of atmospheric PAHs in the region of Lake Chaohu.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baek SO, Field RA, Goldstone ME, Kirk PW, Lester JN, Perry R (1991) A review of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic-hydrocarbons-sources, fate and behavior. Water Air Soil Pollut 60:279–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brankov E, Rao ST, Porter PS (1998) A trajectory-clustering-correlation methodology for examining the long-range transport of air pollutants. Atmos Environ 32:1525–1534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buczynska AJ, Geypens B, Van Grieken R, De Wael K (2013) Stable carbon isotopic ratio measurement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as a tool for source identification and apportionment-a review of analytical methodologies. Talanta 105:435–450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen YJ, Sheng GY, Bi XH, Feng YL, Mai BX, Fu JM (2005) Emission factors for carbonaceous particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from residential coal combustion in China. Environ Sci Technol 39:1861–1867

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen ER, Rachdawong P, Karls JF, Van Camp RP (1999) PAHs in sediments: unmixing and CMB modeling of sources. Journal of Environmental Engineering-Asce 125:1022–1032

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cotham WE, Bidleman TF (1995) Polycyclic aromatic-hydrocarbons and polychlorinated-biphenyls in air at an urban and rural site near Lake Michigan. Environ Sci Technol 29:2782–2789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis E, Walker TR, Adams M, Willis R, Norris GA, Henry RC (2019) Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in small craft harbor (SCH) surficial sediments in Nova Scotia, Canada. Sci Total Environ 691:528–537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Degrendele C, Fiedler H, Kocan A, Kukucka P, Pribylova P, Prokes R, Klanova J, Lammel G (2020) Multiyear levels of PCDD/Fs, dl-PCBs and PAHs in background air in central Europe and implications for deposition. Chemosphere 240:124852

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dickhut RM, Canuel EA, Gustafson KE, Liu K, Arzayus KM, Walker SE, Edgecombe G, Gaylor MO, MacDonald EH (2000) Automotive sources of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with particulate matter in the Chesapeake Bay region. Environ Sci Technol 34:4635–4640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Draxler RR, Hess GD (1997) Description of the Hysplit4 modeling system. NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL ARL-224

  • EPAU. (2008) EPA Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) 3.0 fundamentals & user guide. National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, .

  • Feng J, Song N, Yu Y, Li Y (2020) Differential analysis of FA-NNC, PCA-MLR, and PMF methods applied in source apportionment of PAHs in street dust. Environ Monit Assess 192:727–727

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franz TP, Eisenreich SJ, Holsen TM (1998) Dry deposition of particulate polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to Lake Michigan. Environ Sci Technol 32:3681–3688

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galarneau E (2008) Source specificity and atmospheric processing of airborne PAHs: implications for source apportionment. Atmos Environ 42:8139–8149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo JY, Wu FC, Zhang L, Liao HQ, Zhang RY, Li W, Zhao XL, Chen SJ, Mai BX (2011) Screening Level of PAHs in Sediment Core from Lake Hongfeng, Southwest China. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 60:590–596

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison RM, Smith DJT, Luhana L (1996) Source apportionment of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons collected from an urban location in Birmingham, UK. Environ Sci Technol 30:825–832

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He W, Qin N, Kong XZ, Liu WX, He QS, Ouyang HL et al (2013) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the surface sediments and suspended particulate matter (SPM) from Lake Chaohu, a large shallow Chinese lake. Sci Total Environ 463:1163–1173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoff RM, Strachan WMJ, Sweet CW, Chan CH, Shackleton M, Bidleman TF et al (1996) Atmospheric deposition of toxic chemicals to the Great Lakes: A review of data through 1994. Atmospheric Environ 30:3505–3527

  • Kalkstein LS, Tan GR, Skindlov JA (1987) An evaluation of 3 clustering procedures for use in synoptic climatological classification. J Clim Appl Meteorol 26(6):717–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsoyiannis A, Sweetman AJ, Jones KC (2011) PAH molecular diagnostic ratios applied to atmospheric sources: a critical evaluation using two decades of source inventory and air concentration data from the UK. Environ Sci Technol 45:8897–8906

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khalili NR, Scheff PA, Holsen TM (1995) PAH source fingerprints for coke ovens, diesel and gasoline-engines, highway tunnels, and wood combustion emmisions. Atmos Environ 29:533–542

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong XZ, He W, Qin N, He QS, Yang B, Ouyang HL, Wang Q, Xu F (2013) Comparison of transport pathways and potential sources of PM10 in two cities around a large Chinese lake using the modified trajectory analysis. Atmos Res 122:284–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laflamme RE, Hites RA (1978) The global distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in recent sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 42:289–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen RK, Baker JE (2003) Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban atmosphere: a comparison of three methods. Environ Sci Technol 37:1873–1881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zhang G, Li XD, Qi SH, Liu GQ, Peng XZ (2006) Source seasonality of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a subtropical city, Guangzhou, South China. Sci Total Environ 355:145–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Cheng HR, Zhang G, Qi SH, Li XD (2009) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) deposition to and exchange at the air-water interface of Luhu, an urban lake in Guangzhou, China. Environ Pollut 157:273–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li CC, Huo SL, Yu ZQ, Guo W, Xi BD, He ZS, Zeng XY, Wu FC (2016) Historical records of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon deposition in a shallow eutrophic lake: impacts of sources and sedimentological conditions. J Environ Sci 41:261–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lian JJ, Ren Y, Chen JM, Wang T, Cheng TT (2009) Distribution and source of alkyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dustfall in Shanghai, China: the effect on the coastal area. J Environ Monit 11:187–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu SZ, Tao S, Liu WX, Dou H, Liu YN, Zhao JY, Little MG, Tian Z, Wang J, Wang L, Gao Y (2008) Seasonal and spatial occurrence and distribution of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rural and urban areas of the North Chinese Plain. Environ Pollut 156:651–656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu CH, Tian FL, Chen JW, Li XH, Qiao XL (2010) A comparative study on source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of the Daliao River, China: positive matrix factorization and factor analysis with non-negative constraints. Chin Sci Bull 55:915–920

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lohmann R, Jurado E, Pilson MEQ, Dachs J (2006) Oceanic deep water formation as a sink of persistent organic pollutants. Geophys Res Lett 33

  • Okuda T, Kumata H, Zakaria MP, Naraoka H, Ishiwatari R, Takada H (2002) Source identification of Malaysian atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons nearby forest fires using molecular and isotopic compositions. Atmos Environ 36:611–618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ouyang H-L, Wang Q-M, He W, Qin N, Kong X-Z, Liu W-X, He Q-S, Jiang Y-J, Yang C, Yang B, Xu F-L (2014) Organochlorine pesticides in the dust fall around Lake Chaohu, the fifth largest lake in China. Environ Monit Assess 186:383–393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paatero P (1997) Least squares formulation of robust non-negative factor analysis. Chemom Intell Lab Syst 37:23–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perrone MG, Larsen BR, Ferrero L, Sangiorgi G, De Gennaro G, Udisti R et al (2012) Sources of high PM2.5 concentrations in Milan, Northern Italy: molecular marker data and CMB modelling. Sci Total Environ 414:343–355

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pirrone N, Keeler GJ, Holsen TM (1995) Dry deposition of semivolatile organic-compounds to Lake-Michigan. Environ Sci Technol 29:2123–2132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qin N, He W, Kong XZ, Liu WX, He QS, Yang B, Ouyang HL, Wang QM, Xu FL (2013) Atmospheric partitioning and the air-water exchange of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a large shallow Chinese lake (Lake Chaohu). Chemosphere 93:1685–1693

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qin N, He W, Liu WX, Kong XZ, Xu FL, Giesy JP (2020) Tissue distribution, bioaccumulation, and carcinogenic risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic organisms from Lake Chaohu, China. Sci Total Environ 749:141577–141577

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qu C, Albanese S, Lima A, Hope D, Pond P, Fortelli A, Romano N, Cerino P, Pizzoante A, De Vivo B (2019) The occurrence of OCPs, PCBs, and PAHs in the soil, air, and bulk deposition of the Naples metropolitan area, southern Italy: implications for sources and environmental processes. Environ Int 124:89–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rogge WF, Hildemann LM, Mazurek MA, Cass GR, Simoneit BRT (1993) Sources of fine organic aerosol. 3. Road dust, tire debris, and organometallic brake lining dust-roads as sources and sinks. Environ Sci Technol 27:1892–1904

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi GL, Li X, Feng YC, Wang YQ, Wu JH, Li J, Zhu T (2009) Combined source apportionment, using positive matrix factorization-chemical mass balance and principal component analysis/multiple linear regression-chemical mass balance models. Atmos Environ 43:2929–2937

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simcik MF, Eisenreich SJ, Lioy PJ (1999) Source apportionment and source/sink relationships of PAHs in the coastal atmosphere of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Atmos Environ 33:5071–5079

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S, Cao HY, Liu WX, Li BG, Cao J, Xu FL, Wang X, Coveney RM, Shen W, Qin B, Sun R (2003) Fate modeling of phenanthrene with regional variation in Tianjin, China. Environ Sci Technol 37:2453–2459

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JZ, Zhang K, Liang B, Zeng EY (2011a) Occurrence, source apportionment and toxicity assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of Chaohu, one of the most polluted lakes in China. J Environ Monit 13:3336–3342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang WT, Simonich SLM, Giri B, Xue MA, Zhao JY, Chen SJ et al (2011b) Spatial distribution and seasonal variation of atmospheric bulk deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Beijing-Tianjin region, North China. Environ Pollut 159:287–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Li Z, Ma Y, Qiu X, Ren A (2016) Association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in housewives’ hair with hypertension. Chemosphere 153:315–321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wise S, Sander L, Schantz M (2015) Analytical methods for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—a historical perspective on the 16 U.S. EPA priority pollutant PAHs. Polycycl Aromat Compd 35(2–4):1–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu SP, Tao S, Xu FL, Dawson R, Lan T, Li BG, Cao J (2005) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dustfall in Tianjin, China. Sci Total Environ 345:115–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu FC, Xu LB, Sun YG, Liao HQ, Zhao XL, Guo JY (2012) Exploring the relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sedimentary organic carbon in three Chinese lakes. J Soils Sediments 12:774–783

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu HL, Sun BH, Li JH (2019a) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments/soils of the rapidly urbanized lower reaches of the river Chaohu, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu X, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Zhao H, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Xie Q, Chen J (2019b) Seasonal variation, air-water exchange, and multivariate source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the coastal area of Dalian. China Environ Pollut 244:405–413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu FL, Tao S, Xu ZR (1999) The restoration of riparian wetlands and macrophytes in Lake Chao, an eutrophic Chinese lake: possibilities and effects. Hydrobiologia 405:169–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu FL, Tao S, Dawson RW, Xu ZR (2003) The distributions and effects of nutrients in the sediments of a shallow eutrophic Chinese lake Hydrobiologia 492:85–93

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu SS, Liu WX, Tao S (2006) Emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in China. Environ Sci Technol 40:702–708

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu FL, Wu WJ, Wang JJ, Qin N, Wang Y, He QS, He W, Tao S (2011) Residual levels and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in freshwater fishes from Lake Small Bai-Yang-Dian, Northern China. Ecol Model 222:275–286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu FL, Qin N, Zhu Y, He W, Kong XZ, Barbour MT, He QS, Wang Y, Ou-Yang HL, Tao S (2013) Multimedia fate modeling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lake Small Baiyangdian, Northern China. Ecol Model 252:246–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang LH, Cheng SP, Wu ZB (2009) Anthropogenic organic contaminants in water and surface sediments of large shallow eutrophic Chaohu Lake, China. Fresenius Environ Bull 18:2048–2054

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Zhang X, Xing W, Zhou Q, Zhang L, Wu Q, Zhou Z, Chen R, Toriba A, Hayakawa K, Tang N (2021) Yearly variation in characteristics and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitro-PAHs in urban shanghai from 2010-2018. J Environ Sci 99:72–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yunker MB, Macdonald RW, Vingarzan R, Mitchell RH, Goyette D, Sylvestre S (2002) PAHs in the Fraser River basin: a critical appraisal of PAH ratios as indicators of PAH source and composition. Org Geochem 33:489–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Qu C, Qi S, Cao J, Zhan C, Xing X, Xiao Y, Zheng J, Xiao W (2015) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric dustfall from the industrial corridor in Hubei Province, Central China. Environ Geochem Health 37:891–903

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao JP, Zhang FW, Xu LL, Chen JS, Xu Y (2011) Spatial and temporal distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere of Xiamen, China. Sci Total Environ 409:5318–5327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Y, Duan X, Qin N, Li J, Tian J, Zhong Y, Chen L, Fan R, Yu Y, Wu G, Wei F (2019) Internal biomarkers and external estimation of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their relationships with cancer mortality in a high cancer incidence area. Sci Total Environ 688:742–750

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the help from the National Environmental and Energy Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation.

Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

Funding

This research was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (FRF-TP-18-071A1) and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (41977312, 41503104, 41030529).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Ning Qin

  2. MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban & Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Ning Qin, Xiang-Zhen Kong, Wei He, Qi-Shuang He, Wen-Xiu Liu & Fu-Liu Xu

  3. Department of Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Brückstr. 3a, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany

    Xiang-Zhen Kong

  4. China Univ Geosci Beijing, MOE Key Lab Groundwater Circulat & Environm Evolu, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Wei He

  5. Beijing Municipal Key Lab Agr Environm Monitoring, Beijing, 100097, People’s Republic of China

    Qi-Shuang He

  6. Chinese Res Inst Environm Sci, State Key Lab Environm Criteria & Risk Assessment, Beijing, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Wen-Xiu Liu

Authors
  1. Ning Qin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiang-Zhen Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qi-Shuang He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wen-Xiu Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fu-Liu Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Ning Qin: conceptualization, methodology, experiment, formal analysis, data curation, writing - original draft, visualization. Xiang-Zhen Kong: investigation, writing, visualization. Wei He: investigation, experiment. Qi-Shuang He: investigation, experiment. Wen-Xiu Liu: investigation, experiment. Fu-Liu Xu: supervision, project administration, funding acquisition.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fu-Liu Xu.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Constantini Samara

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

ESM 1

(DOC 1790 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Qin, N., Kong, XZ., He, W. et al. Dustfall-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) over the fifth largest Chinese lake: residual levels, source apportionment, and correlations with suspended particulate matter (SPM)-bound PAHs in water. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 55388–55400 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14873-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14873-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation