Persistence of dissolved organic matter in sediments influenced by environmental factors：Implication for nutrition and carbon cycle.

The persistence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a crucial role in the cycling and distribution of carbon and nutrients. Nonetheless, our understanding of how environmental alterations affect the persistence of sedimentary DOM remains incomplete. Excitation Emission Fluorescence Matrix-Parallel Factor Analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) was used to examine the fluorescence and compositional characteristics of hydrophilic and hydrophobic DOM (separated using XAD-8 resin) within sediments from twelve lakes and reservoirs. Fluorescence analysis indicated that DOM persistence is dependent on the proportions of the three components derived from PARAFAC. The Mantel test showed that climatic factors had the most significant impact on DOM persistence (Mantel's r = 0.46-0.54, Mantel's p = 0.001-0.007), while anthropogenic (Mantel's r = 0.24-0.32, Mantel's p = 0.03-0.05) and hydrological factors (Mantel's r = 0.03-0.22, Mantel's p = 0.06-0.40) had a somewhat lesser influence. Environmental changes resulted in a consistent decline in DOM persistence from Northeast to Southwest China, accompanied by an increase in gross primary productivity (GPP). Reduced DOM persistence due to climate, hydrological, and anthropogenic factors may lead to elevated concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), contributing to deteriorating water quality and events such as algal blooms. The decline in water quality due to reduced DOM persistence in lakes with high GPP can exacerbate the transition from carbon sinks to carbon sources. Consequently, the persistence of sedimentary DOM significantly influences nutrient and carbon cycling in lakes. Investigating DOM persistence in lakes across diverse geographic locations offers a new perspective on lake eutrophication and carbon emissions. Furthermore, it is crucial to develop targeted recommendations for lake restoration and management.

A Note on Stronger Forms of Sensitivity for Non-Autonomous Dynamical Systems on Uniform Spaces.

This paper introduces the notion of multi-sensitivity with respect to a vector within the context of non-autonomous dynamical systems on uniform spaces and provides insightful results regarding N-sensitivity and strongly multi-sensitivity, along with their behaviors under various conditions. The main results established are as follows: (1) For a k-periodic nonautonomous dynamical system on a Hausdorff uniform space (S,U), the system (S,fk∘⋯∘f1) exhibits N-sensitivity (or strongly multi-sensitivity) if and only if the system (S,f1,∞) displays N-sensitivity (or strongly multi-sensitivity). (2) Consider a finitely generated family of surjective maps on uniform space (S,U). If the system (S,f1,∞) is N-sensitive, then the system (S,fk,∞) is also N-sensitive. When the family f1,∞ is feebly open, the converse statement holds true as well. (3) Within a finitely generated family on uniform space (S,U), N-sensitivity (and strongly multi-sensitivity) persists under iteration. (4) We present a sufficient condition under which an nonautonomous dynamical system on infinite Hausdorff uniform space demonstrates N-sensitivity.

Simultaneous immobilization of ammonia and phosphorous by thermally treated sediment co-modified with hydrophilic organic matter and zeolite.

The use of calcined sediments (CS) for thin-layer capping is an environment-friendly technology for controlling nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) release. However, the effects of CS derived materials and efficiency in controlling the sedimentary N/P ratio have not been thoroughly investigated. While zeolite-based materials have been proven efficient to remove ammonia, it is limited by the low adsorption capacity of PO43-. Herein, CS co-modified with zeolite and hydrophilic organic matter (HIM) was synthesized to simultaneously immobilize ammonium-N (NH4+-N) and remove P, due to the superior ecological security of natural HIM. Studies on the influences of calcination temperature and composition ratio indicated that 600 °C and 40% zeolite were the optimal parameters leading to the highest adsorption capacity and lowest equilibrium concentration. Compared with doping with polyaluminum chloride, doping with HIM not only enhanced P removal but also achieved higher NH4+-N immobilization efficacy. The efficiency of zeolite/CS/HIM capping and amendment in prohibiting the discharge of N/P from sediments was assessed via simulation experiments, and the relevant control mechanism was studied at the molecular level. The results indicated that zeolite/CS/HIM can reduce 49.98% and 72.27% of the N flux and 32.10% and 76.47% of the P flux in slightly and highly polluted sediments, respectively. Capping and incubation with zeolite/CS/HIM simultaneously resulted in substantial reductions in NH4+-N and dissolved total P in overlying water and pore water. Chemical state analysis indicated that HIM enhanced the NH4+-N adsorption ability of CS owing to its abundant carbonyl groups and indirectly increased P adsorption by protonating mineral surface groups. This research provides a novel strategy to control sedimentary nutrient release by adopting an efficient and ecologically secure remediation method to rehabilitate eutrophic lake systems.

The evolution of a typical plateau lake from macrophyte to algae leads to the imbalance of nutrient retention.

Long-term anthropogenic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs have led to lake eutrophication and decreased environmental quality. However, the imbalance in nutrient cycling caused by ecosystem transformation during lake eutrophication is still unclear. The N, P, organic matter (OM) and their extractable forms in the sediment core of Dianchi Lake were investigated. Combining ecological data and geochronological techniques, a coupling relationship between the evolution of lake ecosystems and nutrient retention was established. The results show that the evolution of lake ecosystems promotes the accumulation and mobilization of N and P in sediments, leading to an imbalance in nutrient cycling in the lake system. From the "macrophyte-dominated" period to the "algae-dominated" period, the accumulation rates of potential mobile N and P (PMN, PMP) in sediments have significantly increased, and the retention efficiency of total N and P (TN, TP) has decreased. The increased TN/TP ratio (5.38 ± 1.52 ‒ 10.19 ± 2.94) and PMN/PMP ratio (4.34 ± 0.41 ‒ 8.85 ± 4.16), as well as the reduced humic-like/protein-like ratio (H/P, 11.18 ± 4.43 ‒ 5.97 ± 3.67), indicated an imbalance in nutrient retention during sedimentary diagenesis. Our results show that eutrophication has resulted in the potential mobilization of N in sediments exceeding P, providing new insights for further understanding the nutrient cycle in the lake system and strengthening lake management.

Heterogeneity of molecular-level and photochemical of dissolved organic matter derived from decomposing submerged macrophyte and algae.

Aquatic macrophytes and algae are the most important sources of autochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM), and their transformation and reuse significantly affect aquatic ecosystem health. In this study, Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) was used to identify the molecular features between submerged macrophyte-derived DOM (SMDOM) and algae-derived DOM (ADOM). The photochemical heterogeneity between SMDOM and ADOM by UV254-irradiation and their molecular mechanism were also discussed. The results showed that the molecular abundance of SMDOM was dominated by lignin/CRAM-like structures, tannins, and concentrated aromatic structures (sum of 91.79%), while that of ADOM was dominated by lipids, proteins, and unsaturated hydrocarbons (sum of 60.30%). UV254-radiation resulted in a net reduction of tyrosine-like, tryptophan-like and terrestrial humic-like, and conversely a net production of marine humic-like. The light decay rate constants obtained by the multiple exponential function model fitting revealed that both tyrosine-like and tryptophan-like components of SMDOM could be rapidly and directly photodegraded, while the photodegradation of tryptophan-like in ADOM depended on the production of photosensitizers. The photo-refractory fractions of both SMDOM and ADOM were as follows: humic-like > tyrosine-like > tryptophan-like. Our results provide new insights into the fate of autochthonous DOM in aquatic ecosystems where "grass-algae" coexist or evolve.

Effects of calcination on the environmental behavior of sediments by phosphorus speciation and interface characterization.

Dredged sediments derived from eutrophicated lakes poses hardness of sludge disposal and ecological risks. The proper pretreatment and utilization of dredged sediments presented a challenge. In this study, Dianchi Lake sediments were dredged, thermally treated and utilized as particle capping material in batch experiments. The effects of calcination on phosphorus speciation and sediment-water interface environment as well as P immobility mechanism were predominantly explored. The microstructures and chemical compositions of calcined sediments were investigated, indicating the porosity and mineralization components were greatly enhanced. The fractional analysis of phosphorus revealed that the calcination process reduced the percentage of unsteady phosphorus, transforming into stable inert phosphorus fractions (Al-P, Ca-P and Res-P), respectively, thereby minimized its mobility and eutrophication risk. Interestingly, calcination temperatures of 700 °C and 800 °C resulted in smaller releasing potentials and equilibrium phosphorus concentrations, despite having lower adsorption capacities than 550 °C. Furthermore, the results of redox potential monitoring showed that the thermally treated Dianchi Lake sediments could enhance the redox potential and dissolved oxygen in the surface sediment, indicating the amelioration of interfacial environment. The practical monitoring experiments confirmed the capping depressed the DTP to 0.031 mg L-1. The investigation of this study provided explicit evidence of Ca coupled P and aerobic Fe bound P strengthened the immobilization effects, and the development of sediment calcination demonstrates a promising strategy for alleviating the burden of endogenous pollution and improving aerobic environment, which are of great significance for lake ecological remediation.

Biogeochemical dynamics of particulate organic phosphorus and its potential environmental implication in a typical "algae-type" eutrophic lake.

Organic phosphorus (Po) plays a very important role in the process of lake eutrophication, but there is still a lack of knowledge about the internal cycle of Po in suspended particulate matter (SPM) dominated by algal debris. In this study, the characterization of bioavailable Po by sequential extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis showed that 45% of extracted TP was Po in SPM of Lake Dianchi, and 43-98% of total Po in H2O, NaHCO3 and NaOH fractions was enzymatically hydrolyzable Po (EHP, H2O-EHP: 31-53%). Importantly, labile monoester P was the main organic form (68%) of EHP, and its potential bioavailability was higher than that of diester P and phytate-like P. According to the estimation of P pools in SPM of the whole lake, the total load of Pi plus EHP in the H2O extract of SPM was 74.9 t and had great potential risk to enhance eutrophication in the lake water environment. Accordingly, reducing the amount of SPM in the water during the algal blooming period is likely to be a necessary measure that can successfully interfere with or block the continuous stress of unhealthy levels of P on the aquatic ecosystem.

Particle-scale understanding sorption of phenanthrene on sediment fractions amended with black carbon and humic acid.

Black carbon (BC) and humic acid (HA) have been proposed to dominate the sorption behavior of phenanthrene in sediment. Nevertheless, little is known about the sorption mechanism that related to particle-scale by spiking of BC and HA in sediment particle size fractions. In this study, sorption isotherms for phenanthrene were determined in four particle-size sediment fractions (<2 µm, 2-31 µm, 31-63 µm and >63 µm) that amended with BC and HA, or not. The fitting results by Freundlich model indicated that the sediment particle size fractions amended with BC increased the sorption capacity and affinity for phenanthrene. Sediment coarser size fractions (31-63 µm and >63 µm) by spiking of BC contributed higher to sorption capacity factor (KF) and nonlinearity factor (n) than the finer size fractions (2-31 µm and <2 µm). By contrast, the sediment particle size fractions amended with HA enhanced the sorption distribution coefficient (Kd), but reduced the sorption affinity for phenanthrene. All these phenomena are obviously affected by the distribution of heterogeneous organic matter that related to sediment particle-scale. Results of this work could help us better understand the impact of increased BC and HA content in sediments on the sorption of hydrophobic organic pollutants (HOCs) and predict the fate of HOCs in offshore sediments due to tidal action.

Responses of dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics in eutrophic lake to water diversion from external watershed.

Eutrophication is an important water environment issue facing global lakes. Diversion of water from external watersheds into lakes is considered as effective in ameliorating eutrophication and reducing algal blooms. Nevertheless, the changes in lake water environment caused by external water diversion, especially the influence of water diversion on the characteristics of dissolved organic matters (DOM), are still poorly understood. We therefore used a combination of EEM-PARAFAC, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) to investigate the effects of water diversion from the Niulan River on DOM characteristics in Lake Dianchi. The results showed that the water diversion from the Niulan River significantly improved the water quality of Lake Dianchi, the concentrations of TN, TP, COD and Chla decreased rapidly, and the degree of humification of dissolved organic matter (DOM) increased, which was in sharp contrast with that of pre-implementation. Firstly, the diversion of water from the Niulan River mainly led to changes in the structure of pollution sources. The load of influent rivers and sewage treatment plants rich in lignin and tannins increased, and the input of terrestrial humus increased. Second, the improved water quality reduced algal enrichment and frequency of blooms, and reduced the release of lipid- and protein-riched algal-derived DOM. Finally, the hydraulic retention time of Lake Dianchi caused by water diversion was shortened, the hydrodynamic conditions were significantly improved, and the dissolved oxygen (DO) level gradually recovered, which played a positive role in improving the humification degree of DOM. Our findings provide new insights for exploring the improvement of eutrophic lake eco-environmental quality caused by water diversion projects.

The adsorption-release behavior of sediment phosphorus in a typical "grass-algae" coexisting lake and its influence mechanism during the transition sensitive period.

In the early stage of eutrophication, the coexistence of "grass and algae" in lakes is obvious. Understanding the P sorption-desorption behavior in natural sediments during the ecologically sensitive transition period has important scientific value for predicting the deterioration of lake ecosystems and formulating restoration measures, but the related mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the analysis results of sedimentary dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions, extractable Fe (hydr)oxide fractions and P adsorption experiments showed that sedimentary DOM fractions, especially the tyrosine-like protein fractions and microbial humic-like fractions, played a part in determining the EPC0 and Kd values of sediments in the plateau lake environment. The compound effect of amorphous Fe (hydr)oxides and sedimentary OM affected the increase of sedimentary P adsorption. Interestingly, these phenomena were strongly correlated with water depth. Furthermore, the distribution of water depth to aquatic plants indirectly regulated the values of sedimentary EPC0 and Kd. Meanwhile, the ability of submerged plants to control the sedimentary EPC0andKd values will be forced to shift shallowly, thereby forcing a significant reduction of areas with low EPC0 and high Kd values. This not only enhanced the risk of endogenous P release in lakes, but also accelerated the further deterioration of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, studying the long-term scale changes of sedimentary EPC0 and Kd values can help to understand the duration of the lake ecological transition period and prevent the transitional deterioration of ecosystem.

Fabrication and characterization of Ti/polyaniline-Co/PbO2-Co for efficient electrochemical degradation of cephalexin in secondary effluents.

The traditional interlayer of PbO2 electrode possessed many problems, such as short service lifetime and limited specific surface area. Herein, a novel and efficient Ti/polyaniline-Co/PbO2-Co electrode was conctructed employing cyclic voltammetry to introduce a Co-doped polyaniline interlayer and anodic electrodeposition to synthetize a ß-PbO2-Co active layer. Compared with pristine PbO2 electrode, Ti/polyaniline-Co/PbO2-Co exhibited more compact crystalline shape and higher active sites amounts. Pratically, the electrochemical degradation of 5 mg L-1 cephalexin in real secondary effluents was effectively achieved by the novel anode with 87.42% cephalexin removal and 71.8% COD mineralization after 120 min of 15 mA cm-2 electrolysis. The hydroxyl radical production and electrochemical stability were increased by 3.16 and 3.27 times respectively. The cephalexin degradation pathway was investigated by combining a density functional theory-based theoretical approach and LC-QTrap-MS/MS. The most likely cleavage point of the ß-lactam ring was the O=C-N bond, whose attack would produce small molecular compounds containing the thiazole and 4, 6-thiazine rings. Further oxidation produced inorganic ions; quantitative investigations indicated the amino groups to undergo decomposition to form aqueous NH4+, which was further oxidized to NO3-. The accumulation of NO3- and SO42-, combined with a decrease in toxicity toward Escherichia coli, demonstrated the efficient mineralization of cephalexin on the Ti/polyaniline-Co/PbO2-Co electrode.

Effect of dissolved organic matter and heavy metals ions on sorption of phenanthrene at sedimentary particle scale.

Human activities significantly increase the input of offshore heavy metals and organic pollutants. Although particle-scale and heterogeneous organic matters are fundamentally important to the fate of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs), deep understanding of the adsorption mechanism of HOCs on soil/sediment particles under the influence of heavy metal and organic pollution input is needed. This study investigates the effects of exotic DOM and heavy metals ions on the phenanthrene adsorption on sediment fractions. The adsorption experiments demonstrated that exotic DOM increased phenanthrene adsorption amount of sediment, with the greatest enhancement on clay particles (<2 µm). Nevertheless, the mechanism was differentiated accordingly to particle dimensions in terms of increased binding coefficients and mobility of phenanthrene. Furthermore, the introduction of heavy metals considerably enhanced the nonlinear sorption of phenanthrene. The Freundlich exponent N reduced by 0.01-0.24 when adding Cu2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+, especially for coarse particles (31-63 µm) fraction. In comparison, the enhancement of nonlinearity adsorption by Cu2+ and Zn2+ is significantly lower than Pb2+ ions. To our knowledge, the particle-scale study broadens the horizon of environmental fate and ecological risk of HOCs in intertidal regions, which is significantly affected by tidal action.

Water depth determines spatial and temporal phosphorus retention by controlling ecosystem transition and P-binding metal elements.

Shallow lakes are more susceptible to eutrophication than deep lakes. The geochemical and biogeochemical mechanisms controlling the vulnerability to eutrophication for deep lakes and shallow lakes remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the combined Phosphorus (P) retention mechanism with P fractions, water depth, distribution of P-binding metal elements, and macrophytes coverage in a degrading ecosystem of Erhai Lake. We concluded that different mechanisms control the P retention in deep-water areas and shallow-water areas. In shallow areas covered by macrophytes, the biogeochemical process manipulates the P retention by changing the total organic carbon (TOC), calcium (Ca) distributions and turbulence. In deep areas without macrophyte coverage, the aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) distributions control the P retention by a physicochemical process. Manganese (Mn) was found to be a potential proxy in tracking the kinetic release and readsorb of redox-sensitive P (BD-P) in deep areas. The historical record and core sample indicate that the hydrological engineering induced water depth variation is a vital factor changing the ecosystem of Erhai Lake by forming a large area of intermediate area where macrophytes could only survive at low water level. The uplift of water level in the 1990s gradually changed the ecosystem of Erhai Lake from macrophyte-dominated to algal-macrophyte concomitant that reduced the accumulation of stable P fractions and their binding metals. Macrophytes were capable to preserve P in biomass in the macrophyte-dominated ecosystem, which released 150% and 72% of more labile organic P (NaOH25-nrP) and BD-P in the sediment after the deterioration than before, respectively. Therefore, water depth is a prerequisite to restoring the P preservation capacity of sediment and the macrophyte ecosystem. Further hydraulic engineering projects should consider the effect of water-level-variation-induced ecosystem transition.

Importance of ammonia nitrogen potentially released from sediments to the development of eutrophication in a plateau lake.

Sedimentary nitrogen (N) in lakes significantly influenced by eutrophication plays a detrimental role on the ecological sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. Here, we conducted a thorough analysis of the importance of N potentially released from sediments during the shift of "grass-algae" ecosystem in plateau lakes. From 1964 to 2013, the average total amount of sedimentary potential mineralizable organic nitrogen (PMON) and exchangeable N in whole Lake Dianchi were 5.50 × 103 t and 3.44 × 103 t, respectively. NH4+-N was the main product (>90%) of sedimentary PMON mineralization. The PMON in sediments had great release potential, which tended to regulate the distribution of aquatic plants and phytoplankton in Lake Dianchi and facilitated the replacement of dominant populations. Moreover, NH4+-N produced by sedimentary PMON mineralization and exchangeable NH4+-N have increased the difficulty and complexity of ecological restoration in Lake Dianchi to a certain extent. This study highlights the importance of sedimentary N in lake ecosystem degradation, showing the urgent need to reduce the continuous eutrophication of lakes and restore the water ecology.

[Fluorescence Spectral Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter in Songhua Lake Sediment].

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) has a significant impact on the main pollution indicators of the lake (e.g., COD), and sediment is the main source of pollution in the lake. Research on the fluorescence spectral characteristics of DOM in sediments is important to reveal the mechanism of lake pollution. In this study, sediments were collected from 20 sites in Songhua Lake. The DOM components in the sediment were analyzed using the excitation emission matrix-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) technique, and the properties of the sediment DOM were clarified via spectroscopy. Additionally, the relationship between DOM and eutrophication of the water column was explored. The results showed that four components were identified from the sediment DOM of Songhua Lake:humic-like C1 (330/415 nm), C2 (255/440 nm), C3 (365/470 nm), and protein-like C4 (280/355 nm). The high HIX and low BIX indicated that the source of sediment DOM was mainly terrestrial and included some biological sources. The spatial distribution of the fluorescence intensity of the four components was relatively similar, showing that the fluorescence intensity was higher in the upstream (S1-S7) than that in the downstream (S8-S20). The massive deposition of suspended particulate matter (SPM) carried by the three rivers (Huifa River, Songhua River, and Jiao River) was the main reason for this spatial distribution. Eutrophication status in the water column of Songhua Lake was similar to the fluorescence intensity distribution of sediment DOM. Meanwhile, there was a strong correlation between eutrophication level and sediment DOM fluorescence intensity in the downstream water column of Songhua Lake.

Historical changes of sedimentary P-binding forms and their ecological driving mechanism in a typical "grass-algae" eutrophic lake.

With the transformation of lake ecosystem from "clear water" to "turbid water", the residual phosphorus (P) accumulated in sediments may slow down the process of aquatic ecological restoration, and the related mechanisms are complex and need to be better understood. In this study, high-resolution systematic investigation and analysis of P-binding forms in the sediments showed that Lake Dianchi, the largest plateau lake in Southwest China, was enriched with NaOH-rP, HCl-P and Res-P, but depleted in NH4Cl-P, BD-P and NaOH-nrP. The BD-P, NaOH-nrP and NaOH-rP were the main contributors to potential P release from sediments, while the release potential of NH4Cl-P was relatively weak (<1%). When the external P loading gradually decreased, the internal P loading of Lake Dianchi was estimated to be 522 mg P/(m2•a) in the past 30 years. The succession of "grass-algae" type in Lake Dianchi coincided with reduced absorption and transformation of potential mobile P and decreased accumulation of stable P, especially the Res-P. Meanwhile, the temporal variation of potential mobile P was a good predictor of ecological degradation and reduced ecosystem sustainability in Lake Dianchi.

[PAHs Pollution Characteristics and Source Analysis of Typical Lake and Reservoir Sediments in Jin-Ji-Liao Area].

In this research, 29 surface sediments samples of three typical lake reservoirs (in Yuqiao Reservoir, Hengshui Lake, and Dahuofang Reservoir) in the Jin-Ji-Liao area were collected and investigated, and the contents of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected using GC-MS. The results show that the Sigma PAHs (ng·g-1) in the sediments were 337.3-1604.1 (mean value 820.0), 461.1-1497.5 (mean value 932.3), and 102.3-2240.5 (mean value 564.9), respectively. Compared with other domestic rivers and lakes, the pollution levels of the PAHs in the three typical lakes were all at a medium level. The three lakes and reservoirs had consistency in the ratio of the number of rings, which is primarily high. PAHs source analyses were carried out by the characteristic ratio and primary component analysis method, and the results show that three lakes reservoirs pollution were caused mostly by combustion sources (including petroleum, coal, and biomass combustion), with a few petroleum sources. Additionally, the pollution contribution ratio of incomplete combustion of gasoline and diesel oil was 51.4%, and the pollution contribution ratio of combustion of coal and firewood were 22.3%. The risk evaluation results indicate that PAHs in the surface sediments of Yuqiao Reservoir, Hengshui Lake, and Dahuofang Reservoir are generally at a medium and low level, but the monitoring of three types of substances, Flu, InP, and DahA, should be strengthened, and corresponding emergency measures should be taken.

[Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution and Risk Assessment of Nansi Lake in Huaihe River Basin].

This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics of the volatile organic compounds in Nansi Lake and evaluate the ecological and health risks. In November 2017, water samples collected from 25 sampling points in Nansi Lake using the purge and trap technique and GC-MS detected 52 types of VOCs. The detection rate of ethylbenzene, m-/p-xylene, o-xylene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, and naphthalene reached 100%, and cis-1,3-dichloropropene and toluene reached 96%. The detection rate of 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene was the lowest, at only 12%, the average concentration of 1,2-dichlorobenzene was the highest, reaching 3.49 µg·L-1, and 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene was only 0.02 µg·L-1. The concentration of 1,2-dichlorobenzene in Nansi Lake was generally higher than that of other VOCs. Meanwhile, the concentrations of m-/p-xylene and ethylbenzene at point NSH-24 far exceeded the other VOCs, but the median value of all VOCs did not exceed 4 µg·L-1. The spatial distribution of the VOCs concentrations in Nansi Lake presented high values in the northwest and southeast, and low in the middle. The leading cause of VOCs pollution in Nansi Lake may be the exhaust gas emitted by shipping vessels during navigation, and the secondary cause is the collection of VOCs in the upstream and downstream tributaries and the influence of human factors. The health risk assessment of Nansi Lake found that, overall, there was no carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic health risk, but the risk value of individual points was relatively high, even exceeding the risk threshold set by the US EPA. There were 12 points in Nansi Lake where the ecological risk quotient exceeded 1, indicating an ecological risk to aquatic organisms.

[Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of POPs Pollution in Sediments of Xiaoxingkai Lake in the Northeast China].

The pollution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and phthalate esters (PAEs) in the surface sediments of Xiaoxingkai Lake were analyzed by GC-MS, and the main sources and biological toxicity risks of the pollutants were discussed. The results show that:① The content of PAHs in the sediments of xiaoxingkai lake ranged from 82.1 to 534.6 ng·g-1, and the concentration of PAHs in the northwestern port of the lake was higher. The content of OCPs and PAEs in the sediments ranged from 4.8 to 50.4 ng·g-1 and 33.3 to 401.6 ng·g-1, respectively. The concentration was higher in the southeastern lakes. ② PAHs in the sediments were dominated by 3-5-ring compounds (accounting for more than 85%), which were mainly combustion sources, among which the combustion of coal and firewood contributed 47%, the combustion of gasoline and diesel contributed 39%, and the oil product leakage contributed 14%. The OCPs were mainly HCHs (78%) from the use of new lindane and the input of a small amount of industrial HCHs. The PAEs were mainly dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diethyl phthalate (2-ethyl hexyl) ester (DEHP; 94%), which were mainly derived from household garbage and common human articles. ③ Compared with other lakes in China, PAHs and PAEs in the sediments of Xiaoxingkai Lake are at a low pollution level, and there is no ecological risk at present, but some OCPs at some points present a moderate ecological risk.

Contamination profiles and risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater in China.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have attracted attention due to the potential risk they pose to ecosystems and human health. A total of 169 groundwater samples were collected from four representative regions in order to analyze PFASs concentrations in China. The total concentration of PFASs (∑PFASs) in groundwater ranged from 0.05 to 198.80 ng L-1, with an average of 3.97 ng L-1. All targeted PFASs were detected in the studied areas. The detection frequency and average concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the highest (79.29% and 1.61 ng L-1, respectively). The contamination profiles of PFASs in each study area varied due to natural geographical conditions and human activities. According to the results of the potential source identification, the point sources of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were mainly concentrated in Lanzhou, and the distribution of PFASs was slightly affected by atmospheric deposition in all the studied areas. The obtained concentrations of PFOA and PFOS may pose no threat to the residents due to water consumption.