Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ecological risk in surface seawater from the west Bohai Bay, China

In order to understand the pollution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in west Bohai Bay, China, the sixteen PAHs listed by US EPA in surface seawater were investigated in the Qinhuangdao (QHD), Caofeidian (CFD) and Huanghuagang (HHG) areas. Distribution and composition of PAHs in the dissolved phase (DP) and the suspended particulate associated phase (SP) were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. An ecological risk assessment was evaluated using risk quotients (RQ). The results showed that the 16 PAHs were prevalent in west Bohai Bay and the 2-3 rings PAHs were the predominant chemicals. The QHD area had the highest concentration of total PAHs (TPAHs), which ranged from 186.3 to 531.3 ng/L in DP and 222.7 to 715.7 ng/L in SPM. In all three areas, the PAHs levels in SPM were higher than those in DP. The risk assessment showed that there was a relatively low potential ecological risk of PAHs in the coastal regions of Bohai Bay. (paper)