Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) distribution in surface sediments from Yazhou Bay of Sanya, South China, and their source and risk assessment

The distribution, source, and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments were analyzed and discussed at 15 sampling sites in Yazhou Bay, Sanya. Results showed that the total PAH content in the surface sediments of Yazhou Bay ranged from 13.20 ng/g to 40.37 ng/g, and the average content was 31.53 ng/g. Component analysis showed that the distribution of various PAHs in the surface sediments of Yazhou Bay was relatively average, and 3- and 4-ring PAHs were the dominant species. PAHs were traced by characteristic ratio method and principal component analysis. PAHs in the surface sediments mainly came from combustion sources, including incomplete combustion of petroleum, coal, and biomass, which also indicated the existence of petroleum sources. The ecological risk assessment results of surface sediments showed that, compared with effect range low and effect range median (ERM) of the ecological risk of 14 kinds of PAHs detected, no ecological risk existed for PAHs of all sampling sites in Yazhou Bay. The mean ERM quotient analysis also showed that PAHs in the sediments in Yazhou Bay were at a low risk level.