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Distribution of polycyclic musks in surface sediments from the Pearl River Delta and Macao coastal region, South China
Author(s) -
Zeng Xiangying,
Mai Bixian,
Sheng Guoying,
Luo Xiaojun,
Shao Wenlan,
An Taicheng,
Fu Jiamo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1897/07-106.1
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , sediment , environmental science , pearl , delta , sewage , contamination , chemistry , environmental engineering , ecology , geography , biology , geology , archaeology , geomorphology , aerospace engineering , engineering
Polycyclic musks were measured in surface sediments collected from the Pearl River Delta and Macao coastal region, South China, to investigate contamination from domestic sewage. Three polycyclic musk compounds—4‐acetyl‐1,1‐dimethyl‐6‐ tert ‐butylindan, 1,3,4,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐4,6,6,7,8,8‐hexamethylcyclopenta(g)‐2‐benzopyran (HHCB), and 7‐acetyl‐1,1,3,4,4,6–hexa‐methyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN)—were detected in sediment samples. Two polycyclic musks, HHCB and AHTN, were dominant components in sediment, consistent with the use pattern of polycyclic musks by perfume industries in the Pearl River Delta region. The concentrations of total polycyclic musks ranged from 5.76 to 167 u,g/kg. Because of the large amount of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater discharged from the city of Guangzhou, the highest concentration of polycyclic musks was found in sediments from the Zhujiang River. The significant positive correlation between the HHCB to AHTN ratios and the concentrations of polycyclic musks suggested that the HHCB to AHTN ratio could be used as a tracer for source discrimination and for the degree of degradation in the environment.