Concentration, distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from Lijiang River, South China.

Concentrations, distributions and sources of PAHs were investigated in surface sediments from Lijiang River, South China. The total PAHs concentrations ranged from 160 to 602 ng g(-1) dry weight.The total PAHs concentrations from different area descended in the order: middle reach > upper reach > down reach. Based on the PAHs indicators and the surrounding along Lijiang River, PAHs were mainly derived from the burning of coal. The ecological risk assessment suggested that the probability of negative toxic effective caused by PAHs in Lijiang River was lower than 25 %.