Investigation into Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediments of Wei River Basin

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as indicators of anthropogenic activities, existed in sediments may pose potential risk to environment. In the present study, we assessed occurrence, composition, and risk assessment of PAHs in Wei River Basin. It was found that the total concentration (∑16PAHs) of selected PAHs in sediments for the main stream of Wei River and its tributaries ranged from n.d. (not detectable) to 577.25 ng g−1 and 36.35 to 2348.77 ng g−1, respectively. The PAHs were mostly dominated by PHE and FLT. Based on the diagnostic ratios of FLT/(FLT + PYR), BaA/(BaA + CHR), and PCA analysis, we deducted that diesel emissions and incomplete combustion of petroleum fuels were predominant in the selected area. For sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), adverse effects of three PAHs (ACE, PHE, and BgP) in sediment were occasionally observed, while the other 9 PAHs were considered to occur rarely. The total carcinogenicity of PAHs assessed by TEQBaP ranged from n.d. to 138.84 ng g−1, and BaP played the dominant role. The ecological risk of individual PAHs (ACE, FLU, PHE, FLT, PYR, BaA, BbF, BaP) were moderate, while other compounds were negligible. Total ecological risk of ∑16PAHs posed low to moderate ecological risk in Wei River Basin.