Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of mangrove wetlands in Shantou, South China

In order to clarify the distribution, sources, and ecological risk of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of mangrove wetland located in Shantou, twenty eight surface sediments were collected. The concentration of PAHs ranged from 79.74 to 853.17   ng   g −1 dry weight. The concentration of PAHs of sediment in the high tides was higher than that in the low tides and higher in mangrove-planting area than that in non-mangrove growth zone. The spatial distribution of PAHs in the sediment of mangrove wetland was mainly influenced by input sources and tidal currents . The result of the principal component analysis-multiple linear regression model indicated that the major source of PAHs in the studied area was coal burning. However, the adverse effect of PAHs was weak to biota. Undeniably, a lot more systematic explorations are demanded in future to investigate the PAHs contamination in the mangrove wetlands in small–medium cities with the development of coastal zone economy.