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The total concentrations of 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)-listed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in coastal and estuarine sediments along the northern shores of the Bohai and Yellow Seas, China, at any study location varied from 0.236 to 8.34 nM g−1dry weight (dw). For a given PAH, concentrations varied by one to two orders of magnitude. Ecological risk assessments based on biota–sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) indicated that the potential ecological hazard of PAHs in the sediments was limited. The average total sediment PAH concentrations were less than the effects range low, indicating that PAHs currently present in the sediments were not harmful to aquatic organisms. The estimated PAH concentration in the aquatic organisms was 0.223 nM g−1and posed a limited threat to human health via biological concentration from sediment to harvest of the sea. Assuming no additional PAH inputs, 99% of the 16 PAH molecules currently present in the sediments would be degraded in 40 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distribution and magnitude of arsenic and metals in surface sediments collected from the coastal and estuarine areas of the southern Bohai Sea, China, were investigated. Sediments from the estuarine and coastal areas of the Jie and Xiaoqing Rivers contained highest concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc. Mean concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, and Cd were higher than background concentrations determined for the areas. The magnitude of both enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation indices (Igeo) suggested that pollution with As and metals was occurring along estuarine and coastal areas of the southern Bohai Sea. Risk analysis also suggested that concentrations of As and metals were sufficiently elevated as to cause adverse biological effects in the study area. According to the ecological risk index (RI) values, the upstream of the Jie River has a very high ecological risk for the waterbody. The data provided in this study are considered crucial for controlling and remediation of As and metals’ pollution of the southern Bohai Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand concentrations of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in aquatic products, and risks to human health, concentrations of 12 PFCs were measured in edible tissues of aquatic products collected from Tianjin, China, a typical industrial area on the western Bohai Sea. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the predominant PFC. Concentrations of PFOS in aquatic products from Tianjin Binhai New Area (TBNA) ranged from <0.10 to 241 ng/g wet weight, with the greatest concentration observed in the edible portions of mullet (Mugil so-iuy Basilewsky). Concentrations of PFOS in mullet from the TBNA were greater than those in other species of lower trophic levels, which suggests biomagnification. Concentrations of PFOS in aquatic products from markets were greater than those of locally farmed or wild marine products. Relatively great concentrations of PFOS were not only observed in products from the rapidly growing industrial areas such as Tangu District (TG) and Hangu District (HG), but also in less industrialized areas like the Dagang District (DG). The results of the hazard assessment indicated that consumption of seawater-farmed fish and market fish posed a greater hazard than wild marine fish or freshwater-farmed fish, but the risk to human health was not great. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of metals and arsenic in farmland soils along the Yanghe River, upstream of Guanting Reservoir, were evaluated using fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA). FCA is an emerging methodology for assessing environmental status based on fuzzy logic which can model linguistic data and represent chaotic conditions. The ratio of concentrations of metals and arsenic (As) in surface soils of farmland along the Yanghe River to the corresponding reference values decreased in the order Cd>Zn>Cr>Ni>Pb>Cu>As. Based on the FCA, 86% of surface soils along the Yanghe River were classified as grade C, which is suitable for forestry with a greater absorption capacity, suggesting that most farmland along the Yanghe River has to be abandoned as farmland. In order to improve the quality of soil along the Yanghe River and avoid degeneration of water quality in the river and the Guanting Reservoir, remediation of farmland soils along the river is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were measured in water and sediment from coastal Bohai Bay and surrounding rivers flowing into the bay. Of the 15 PFCs measured, PFOS and PFOA were detected with the greatest frequency. Concentrations in water ranged from<0.2 to 31 ng·L-1 and<1.0 to 82 ng·L-1 for PFOS and PFOA, respectively. Concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in sediments ranged from<0.1 to 2.0 ng·g-1 dw and<0.1 to 0.5 ng·g-1 dw, respectively. Concentrations of PFCs in Bohai Bay were less than those observed in other areas in Asia, but greater concentrations of ∑PFCs were observed in the Dalin River with concentrations increasing from upstream to downstream, and the greatest concentrations in sediment were observed in tidal flats. The ratio of ∑PFCs in sediment and water indicated that sediment could serve as a significant sink for PFUnA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic survey of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) including hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH and ΣHCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane metabolites (p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and ∑DDT) in soils along the north coastal areas of the Bohai Sea, China, has been lacking. In this study, 31 representative surface soil samples were collected along the north coastal and riverine areas of the Bohai Sea to characterise the potential for adverse effects of ∑HCH, ∑DDT and their individual isomers and transformation products. Concentrations of ΣHCH and ΣDDT in soils ranged from less than the limit of detection (

Tianjin Bin Hai New Area (BHNA) is the third largest economic zone in China. This is an older industrial area that has been developing rapidly but with many historic sources of contamination. The concentrations of 16 individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) listed for priority control by the US EPA were quantified in 105 surface soil samples by the use of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Multivariate statistical methods were used to characterise the mixtures and make comparisons in the patterns among areas. Concentrations varied among areas, ranging from moderate to relatively high. The coefficients of determination between concentrations of individual PAHs and total concentration of PAH (∑ PAH) increased with the number of rings. The first three factors from the principal component analysis (PCA) explained 81.6% of the total variation, while ten higher molecular weight (HMW) PAHs' loadings for factor 1 accounted for 51.0%. Based on the patterns of relative loading proportions of individual PAHs calculated by PCA, the primary sources were coal combustion, traffic emissions including gasoline, diesel oil, and the burning of natural gas. The spatial distribution of concentrations of fluorene had a poor spatial autocorrelation in the study area. The sites with the greatest potential risk due to exposure to PAHs were mainly distributed around the chemical industry parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current state of concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in China is presented. While products that are known to degrade to either PFOS or PFOA have been used in China, concentrations in environmental media have been reported to be relatively low across China. Greater concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were observed in southern and eastern China than in other areas of China. Concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were relatively great in the Huangpu River, with concentrations of 20.5 ng l-1 and 1590 ng l-1, respectively. Surface waters of Dongguan and Shanghai were more contaminated by PFOS and PFOA than that of other cities. Dongguan was the only city in China in which PFOS value in surface water exceeded the water quality criterion, while PFOA concentration in Shanghai was 152 ng l-1. Similar to other contaminants, point-source pollution was also the common pattern of PFOS and PFOA contamination. Concentrations of PFOS in human blood in China were relatively greater in China than other countries, with drinking water contamination given as the most likely source. Concentrations of PFOS in human blood have increased from the 1980s to the 2000s, while such a trend was not observed for PFOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (∑ 16PAHs) were measured by gas chromatography equipped with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS) in 56 topsoil samples around Guanting Reservior (GTR), which is an important water source for Beijing. Low to medium levels of PAH contamination (mean=394.2±580.7 ng g-1 dry weight (d.w.)) was evident throughout the region. In addition, localised areas of high PAH contamination near steel and cement factories were identified, with ∑ 16PAHs concentrations as high as 4110 ng/g, dry weight (d.w.). There was a significant positive correlation (r2=0.570, p<0.01) between total organic carbon content and ∑ 16PAHs concentrations. Phenanthrene was the predominant compound, accounting for 27.2% of the ∑ PAH concentration, followed by chrysene>pyrene>benzo[a]anthracene≈ benzo[b]fluoranthene≈ benzo[a]pyrene. Four-ring PAH homologues (39%) were dominant. The higher proportion of 4-6 ring homologues, molecular indices, and the spatial distribution of PAH indicated that industrial discharges, incineration of wastes and traffic discharges were the major sources of soil PAHs around the water reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]