Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediment-porewater system from the East China Sea: Occurrence, partitioning, and diffusion

The distribution, partitioning behavior, and diffusion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) within sediment-porewater system were determined in two cores obtained from the Min-Zhe coastal mud of the East China Sea (ECS). Depth profiles of apparently dissolved PAH levels exhibited greater variabilities, with their elevated levels at depth and a high abundance of two-to three-ring PAHs observed. These distribution and composition patterns were inconsistent with the corresponding sediment PAHs, indicating differences in controlling factors for PAHs present in the system. In addition to compound's hydrophobicity, low detection of heavier PAHs in porewater was possibly correlated with the sediment transport process, as indicated by a relatively high weathering ratio in southern Min-Zhe coastal mud. PAH sorption affinity to the collected core sediments exhibited a generally decreasing trend downcore, as expressed by sediment-porewater partition coefficients. This was consistent with the higher content of porewater PAHs in deep core sediment. The established sediment total organic carbon (TOC)-porewater partitioning profiles in cores were predicted with amorphous organic carbon (AOC)-, coal tar-, and TOC-based distribution models, suggesting a dominant nonlinear sorption of PAHs to AOC. Through activity determinations, PAH diffusion within porewater was elucidated, with significant upward and downward mass transfer for PAHs occurring in both cores. The upward diffusion in the core collected from northern Min-Zhe coastal mud was in significant association with sediment TOC. This suggests that sediment TOC (especially AOC)-desorption of lighter PAHs into porewater, and therefore the possibility of their participation in environmental cycling. Baseline toxicity potential and toxic unit calculations indicated a relatively low exposure risk for benthic organisms to porewater PAHs.

Automated summary

The study revealed that different controlling factors affect the distribution of PAHs in sediment and porewater. Higher levels of PAHs were found in shallow sediment, while in deeper sediment, PAHs were mainly present in porewater. The diffusion of PAHs in porewater was found to be closely related to the organic carbon content of the bottom sediment.