INVESTIGATION AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON POLLUTION IN THE RED BEACH WETLAND, PANJIN, CHINA.

In order to study the pollution status of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments, seawater, and Suaeda heteroptera in the Red Beach Wetland of Panjin City, China, in September and November of 2020, as well as May and July of 2021, sediment, seawater, and Suaeda heteroptera samples were collected from both Site A and Site B. The concentrations and risk levels of 16 priority PAHs regulated by the US (Environmental Protection Agency EPA) were analyzed. The results showed that the concentrations of PAHs in the sediments ranged from 0.7 to 98.5 ng·g-1, in seawater ranged from 0 to 41.5 ng·kg-1, and in Suaeda heteroptera ranged from 0 to 108 ng·g-1. Temporally, the total PAH concentrations in sediments at Site A showed a decreasing trend from 2020 to 2021, while the total PAH concentrations in seawater exhibited an increasing trend. At Site B, the total PAH concentrations in sediments increased, while the total PAH concentrations in seawater and Suaeda heteroptera decreased. Furthermore, ecological risk assessments of sediment PAHs were conducted using the sediment quality guidelines and sediment quality standard methods, while the ecological risk of seawater PAHs was assessed using the quotient approach. The toxic equivalent concentration method was employed to evaluate the ecological risk of PAHs in Suaeda heteroptera. The results indicated relatively low ecological risks of PAHs in the sediments and seawater of the Red Beach Wetland in Panjin. China. However, (Bap benzo[a]pyrene) exhibited the highest toxic equivalent concentration in Suaeda heteroptera, suggesting a significant potential carcinogenic risk that requires attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]