Characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the Qiantangjiang River, Wujiang River, and Pearl River

Methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MePAHs) pose more toxicity and persistence than their parent compounds, yet their contamination levels in reservoir sediments remain poorly understood. We analyzed 44 MePAHs in 72 surface and 199 core sediment samples from three watersheds in China: Qiant...

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Main Authors: Tong Li, Xiao-Ying Li, Jun-Kang Ni, Fu-Shun Wang, Xue-Ping Chen, Jing Ma, Zi-Feng Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-01-01
Series:Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590182625000177
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author Tong Li
Xiao-Ying Li
Jun-Kang Ni
Fu-Shun Wang
Xue-Ping Chen
Jing Ma
Zi-Feng Zhang
author_facet Tong Li
Xiao-Ying Li
Jun-Kang Ni
Fu-Shun Wang
Xue-Ping Chen
Jing Ma
Zi-Feng Zhang
author_sort Tong Li
collection DOAJ
description Methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MePAHs) pose more toxicity and persistence than their parent compounds, yet their contamination levels in reservoir sediments remain poorly understood. We analyzed 44 MePAHs in 72 surface and 199 core sediment samples from three watersheds in China: Qiantangjiang River (QTJ), Wujiang River (WJ), and Pearl River (PR). Total MePAH concentrations (ΣMePAHs) ranged from 19.7 to 1270 ng/g, with methylnaphthalenes and methyl phenanthrenes dominating. Temporally, the ΣMePAHs of surface sediments showed a pattern of dry season (340 ± 250 ng/g) > wet season (303 ± 189 ng/g). Spatially, the ΣMePAHs of surface sediments showed a pattern of WJ (444 ± 235 ng/g) > QTJ (253 ± 133 ng/g) > PR (199 ± 161 ng/g). ΣMePAHs were higher in the surface sediments, and sediment cores of the reservoirs upstream than downstream (383 ± 261 ng/g > 233 ± 113 ng/g, 340 ± 114 ng/g > 105 ± 43.5 ng/g, respectively), and ΣMePAHs varied with the depth of the sediment cores. Notable disparities in component profiles were evident between QTJ and PR sites at various locations, whereas WJ exhibited homogeneity in its component distribution. Spatial and temporal variations revealed unique patterns influenced by diverse sources and environmental factors. TOC was the main factor affecting MePAH concentrations. The influence of hydrological factors on MePAHs pollution in sediments outweighed that of social factors. MePAH isomers that replace methyl groups at specific positions (1,2 or 4-position) were present in much higher concentrations than other isomers in sediment. These findings deepen our understanding of MePAHs pollution in reservoir sediments and are instrumental in crafting effective pollution control strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-89db00c119944ffc9acf00ec641ef7ec2025-08-20T02:45:07ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology2590-18262025-01-01744545210.1016/j.enceco.2025.02.008Characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the Qiantangjiang River, Wujiang River, and Pearl RiverTong Li0Xiao-Ying Li1Jun-Kang Ni2Fu-Shun Wang3Xue-Ping Chen4Jing Ma5Zi-Feng Zhang6School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaSchool of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaSchool of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaSchool of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaSchool of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaSchool of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; Corresponding author at: School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; International Joint Research Center for Arctic Environment and Ecosystem (IJRC-AEE), Polar Academy, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; Corresponding author at: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.Methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MePAHs) pose more toxicity and persistence than their parent compounds, yet their contamination levels in reservoir sediments remain poorly understood. We analyzed 44 MePAHs in 72 surface and 199 core sediment samples from three watersheds in China: Qiantangjiang River (QTJ), Wujiang River (WJ), and Pearl River (PR). Total MePAH concentrations (ΣMePAHs) ranged from 19.7 to 1270 ng/g, with methylnaphthalenes and methyl phenanthrenes dominating. Temporally, the ΣMePAHs of surface sediments showed a pattern of dry season (340 ± 250 ng/g) > wet season (303 ± 189 ng/g). Spatially, the ΣMePAHs of surface sediments showed a pattern of WJ (444 ± 235 ng/g) > QTJ (253 ± 133 ng/g) > PR (199 ± 161 ng/g). ΣMePAHs were higher in the surface sediments, and sediment cores of the reservoirs upstream than downstream (383 ± 261 ng/g > 233 ± 113 ng/g, 340 ± 114 ng/g > 105 ± 43.5 ng/g, respectively), and ΣMePAHs varied with the depth of the sediment cores. Notable disparities in component profiles were evident between QTJ and PR sites at various locations, whereas WJ exhibited homogeneity in its component distribution. Spatial and temporal variations revealed unique patterns influenced by diverse sources and environmental factors. TOC was the main factor affecting MePAH concentrations. The influence of hydrological factors on MePAHs pollution in sediments outweighed that of social factors. MePAH isomers that replace methyl groups at specific positions (1,2 or 4-position) were present in much higher concentrations than other isomers in sediment. These findings deepen our understanding of MePAHs pollution in reservoir sediments and are instrumental in crafting effective pollution control strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590182625000177Methylated PAHsReservoirs sedimentInfluencing factorsIsomer differences
spellingShingle Tong Li
Xiao-Ying Li
Jun-Kang Ni
Fu-Shun Wang
Xue-Ping Chen
Jing Ma
Zi-Feng Zhang
Characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the Qiantangjiang River, Wujiang River, and Pearl River
Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Methylated PAHs
Reservoirs sediment
Influencing factors
Isomer differences
title Characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the Qiantangjiang River, Wujiang River, and Pearl River
title_full Characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the Qiantangjiang River, Wujiang River, and Pearl River
title_fullStr Characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the Qiantangjiang River, Wujiang River, and Pearl River
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the Qiantangjiang River, Wujiang River, and Pearl River
title_short Characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the Qiantangjiang River, Wujiang River, and Pearl River
title_sort characteristics and source apportionment of methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of reservoirs from the qiantangjiang river wujiang river and pearl river
topic Methylated PAHs
Reservoirs sediment
Influencing factors
Isomer differences
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590182625000177
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