Characteristic Analysis Of Some Organic Pollutants In Yangtze Estuary

These years, organic pollution in Yangtze Estuary area has been more serious. In this research, semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the surface sediments and the waters of Yangtze Estuary were investigated. The characteristic of their spatial distribution and the factors that affect the distribution were also discussed. According to related standards and assessment models, pollution status and risk assessment of this area were stated.The results showed that:Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols, esters, substituted benzenes, ethers and some other kinds of SVOCs were detected in the surface sediments. Their distribution didn't show any obvious regularities, but it was mainly controlled by the location of the sampling sites. The distance from the wastewater discharge sites, the hydrodynamic conditions and the characteristics of the sediments were the main factors that influenced the concentrations of the SVOCs in the sediments. Some differences existed between the two groups of surface sediment samples. More pollutants were detected in sediment samples from dry season, and concentrations were higher than those from wet season. According to the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) of National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), concentrations of related pollutants were all below the ERL values, not yet forming obviously adverse biological effects.PAHs, phenols, esters, substituted benzenes, ethers and some other kinds of semivolatile compounds were also detected in water samples. Similar to the surface sediments, more pollutants were detected in water samples from dry season, and concentrations were higher than those from wet season. The distance away from the wastewater discharges was the main factor that affected the distribution of the pollutants in water.According to the Surface Water Quality Standard, concentrations of most SVOCs were lower than the standard levels except some that were a little higher. Health risk assessment also showed that the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of SVOCs in water were not serious and they had no obvious adverse effects on people's health.