Characteristic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their sources in surface water in North China

Sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in nine typical surface water sources in North China have been analyzed by solid phase extraction-gas chromatography tandem triple four-stage mass spectrometry (SPE-GC-MS-MS). The results showed that eleven in sixteen PAHs were detected except BkFL, BaP, InP, BghiP and DBA. The range of total PAHs in spring water body of nine water sources is 23.76-71.47 ng/L, and that is 83.72-277.8 ng/L in summer. The results showed that the seasonal pollution of PAHs was significantly different, and the pollution status of PAHs in summer was significantly higher than that in spring because the non-point source pollutants including PAHs would easily enter surface water sources with rainfall-runoff. The results also showed the PAHs are mainly composed of medium and low cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (2-3 rings). In addition, the ratios of Ant/(Phe+Ant), Flu/(Pyr+Flu) and BaA/(BaA+Chr) indicate the PAHs pollutants should be mainly from coal and wood burning in the upstream area of these water sources, entering water sources through surface runoff, which is not obviously affected by the pollution of oil leakage and discharge. Generally, the concentration of the PAHs in surface water sources in North China is still lower, but it is suggested that we should pay more attention to PAHs risk assessment for the drinking water sources.