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Pollution Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Water of Lake Caohai, Guizhou Province
Received:April 20, 2015  
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KeyWord:Lake Caohai;polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons;source apportionment;ecological risk assessment
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
LIU Feng State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China  
MU Xiang-peng State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China  
CUI Wei State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China  
BAOLIGAO Bai-yin State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China baiyinblg@hotmail.com 
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Abstract:
      Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) have attracted much attention because of their ubiquity, persistence, and toxicity. In order to investigate the distribution, sources and ecological risk of PAHs in surface water of Lake Caohai, water samples were collected in 15 sites in December 2012. The concentrations of 16 USEPA priority pollutant PAHs were determined by GC-MS. The composition patterns were analyzed by employing ratios of the characteristic molecular makers. The ecological risk was assessed by using the risk quotient(RQ) method as well. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs ranged from 13.40 to 694.93 ng·L-1, with an average value as high as 334.73 ng·L-1, which was higher than that of other important lakes in China, such as Lake Taihu, Lake Chaohu and Lake Poyang. The lowest concentration was detected in the central area of the lake, while higher concentrations were found in the nearshore areas, especially in the southern nearshore area where more residents live. The PAHs in the water of Lake Caohai were predominated by 2-and 3-ring components, accounting for 68.59%. The main source of PAHs in the water was combustion of coal and biomass. Most of the sampling sites were at low or moderate(only two sites) risk level, except one site at the high risk level.