Historical changes in the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lake Peipsi sediments (original) (raw)
Related papers
2016
Abstract. Traditionally the elevated concentrations of PAHs in the bottom sediments of Lake Peipsi are explained by the influence of oil shale industry. To estimate the role of Narva Power Plants (Narva PP) in the deposition of PAHs, we investigated the 210Pb dated sediment core from Lake Pihkva, where the influence of oil shale industry should be minimal. The distribution of 15 individual PAHs was established, the observed levels of ΣPAHs ranged between 75 and 345 ng/g. PAHs with 4–5 rings implying petrogenic activity accounted for 74 to 87 % of ΣPAHs, which is higher than in a similar investigated profile in Lake Peipsi sensu stricto. It means that the role of oil shale industry in PAHs accumulation is strongly overestimated and there should be many other sources whose role needs further investigation.
Deposition Fluxes of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Bottom Sediments of Lake Pihkva
Oil Shale, 2013
Traditionally the elevated concentrations of PAHs in the bottom sediments of Lake Peipsi are explained by the influence of oil shale industry. To estimate the role of Narva Power Plants (Narva PP) in the deposition of PAHs, we investigated the 210 Pb dated sediment core from Lake Pihkva, where the influence of oil shale industry should be minimal. The distribution of 15 individual PAHs was established, the observed levels of ΣPAHs ranged between 75 and 345 ng/g. PAHs with 4-5 rings implying petrogenic activity accounted for 74 to 87% of ΣPAHs, which is higher than in a similar investigated profile in Lake Peipsi sensu stricto. It means that the role of oil shale industry in PAHs accumulation is strongly overestimated and there should be many other sources whose role needs further investigation.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Dated Freshwater and Marine Sediments Along the Norwegian Coast
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2010
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been identified and quantified in dated layers of freshwater and marine sediments in Norway. Furthermore, profiles of the individual PAH (22 different) have been used to evaluate possible PAH sources. There is a significant increase in total PAH levels (sum of the 22 PAH) in freshwater sediments from the south-western part of Norway representing the 1800-1950 period, whereas the concentrations have decreased with a factor of approximately four since the 1950s. This pronounced trend was observed in two independent surveys. In northern Norway, the PAH levels in lake sediments have increased slightly during the past decades. In spite of this, the levels are considerably lower than in lake sediments from the south-western part of Norway. In fact, the PAH levels are decreasing northwards on the Norwegian main-land for both freshwater and marine surface sediments. Generally, the regional total PAH levels are higher (three to four times) in freshwater sites compared to the corresponding marine sites. Results of PAH source allocation indicate that pyrogenic sources are important in almost all sediment samples studied. Sediment samples were also collected at Svalbard where the local coal reserve is the major contributor to PAH.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in lake sediments from the High Tatras
Environmental Pollution, 2011
High sedimentary PAH loads were observed in alpine lakes in the High Tatras (Eastern Europe) which are related to high PAH atmospheric deposition fluxes. a b s t r a c t European alpine lake systems are used as indicators of air quality over the continent. Preliminary data showed high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) loads in the High Tatras (Eastern Europe) in comparison to other mountain regions. Here, insight on the spatial distribution of PAH is provided from analysis of top-core sediments of 27 alpine lakes distributed along the High Tatras.
Sediment Fluxes of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in European High Altitude Mountain Lakes
Environmental Science & Technology, 1999
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were measured in superficial sediments from several high altitude mountain lakes for assessment of contemporary background PAH pollution levels in Europe. The sediments were obtained by gravity coring, and the upper 0-1 cm were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The parent PAH mixtures are very uniform irrespective of lake location, lake characteristics, and PAH load, corresponding to airborne combustion mixtures refractory to photooxidation and chemical degradation. The sedimentary fluxes are lowest in lake Arresjøen (Arctic area), 6.9 µg/m 2 yr, between 44 and 150 µg/m 2 yr in west and central Europe and very high, 960-1700 µg/m 2 yr, in east Europe. Normalization of these values to TOC reflects a uniform pattern in correspondence with continental influence and eastwest distribution. This pattern parallels the annual average atmospheric deposition fluxes of sulfate, pointing to combustion particles as the main way of PAH transport into these high altitude lakes. The lowest PAH/TOC ratios are found in the sites more distant from the continent (4.6-4.9 µg/g), the westernmost locations constitute another group (Iberian Peninsula, 7.2-7.8 µg/g), higher values are found in the Alps and Pyrenees (13-17 µg/g), and the most polluted lakes are found in the Tatra mountains (130 µg/g).
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2010
The concentrations of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined from 28 sediment samples taken from the Lake Iznik located in the northwest area in Turkey. Total concentration of the PAHs was observed as in the range of 17-835 ng g -1 dry weight, with the highest values recorded offshore the cities of Iznik and Orhangazi, and the Sölöz creek. According to the molecular indices, contamination of the PAHs in the lake was a mixture of the atmospheric input of high temperature pyrolytic processes and the petrogenic sources transported by the creeks. Further, the higher proportion of high molecular-weight PAHs ([85%) suggests the domination of combustion-related sources. Compared to the consensusbased sediment quality guidelines for PAHs, there are no harmful biological effects on the short term to aquatic life.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Recent lake sediments—I. Compounds having anthropogenic origins
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1980
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHj in sediment cores from Lake Lucerne, Lake Ziirich. and Greifensee. Switzerland. and Lake Washington. northwest U.S.A.. have been Isolated, identified and quantified by glass capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Surface sediment layers are greatly enriched in PAH-up to 40 times--compared to deeper layers. In addition, concentration increases in upper sediments generally correspond to increasing industrialization and urbanization in the catchment basins of the lakes. Few PAH could be detected in pre-industrial revolution sediments. indicating that background levels for most PAH in aquatic sediments are extremely low.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) deposition to and processing in a small rural lake, Cumbria UK
Science of The Total Environment, 1998
PAH concentrations were determined in a dated sediment core collected from Esthwaite Water (EW), a seasonally anoxic lake in the English Lake District. The most dramatic variations are associated with increased PAH fluxes from ∼1900 and a sub-surface maximum (∼29 mg m−2 year−1) in the late 1960s to early 1970s, followed by a fivefold decrease in fluxes to the sediment-water interface. This trend is believed to reflect enhanced fossil fuel burning, followed by general improvements in combustion technologies, shifts in the fuels used for domestic space heating and the implementation of various emission controls on releases from certain known PAH sources. When the relative contributions from individual compounds to the ∑PAH were plotted as vertical profiles, coherent time trends emerged. Perylene dominated the pre-1900 sedimentary PAH composition, contributing >75% to the ∑PAH mixture. The perylene profile provides good evidence for both natural and anthropogenic sources to EW. The ratios of annual sediment trap fluxes to surficial sediment accumulation rates are substantially greater than one for the low molecular weight compounds, suggesting release at or near the sediment water interface and subsequent recycling of these compounds. Recycling was found to increase with increasing solubility and decreasing log Kow.