POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN SURFACE WATER FROM THE SONGHUA RIVER OF CHINA

The concentrations of 8 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water samples collected from 10 stations in Songhua River, China were analyzed. Molecular ratios were used to characterize the possible pollution sources. The mean concentrations of PAHs were 3.44, 4.17 and 0.53 mu g.L-1 in January, February and May 2007. Naphthalene was the dominant species in water samples with mean values of 1.57, 1.29 and 0.15 mu g.L-1, and with relative proportions of 43.77%, 30.90% and 28.62% in these 3 months, respectively. Higher concentrations of PAHs were found in sampling stations S1, S2, S5, S7, and S9 during lowflow period (January and February) than mean-flow period (May). Ratios of anthracene/(anthracene+ phenanthrene) and fluoranthene/(fluoranthene+pyrene) were calculated to evaluate the possible sources of PAH contaminations. These ratios reflect inputs of PAHs from combustion sources, especially from those of grass, wood and coal.