ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Levels and Risks of Heavy Metals,
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons,
and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Hun River
in Northeastern China
Hui Wang1, Lina Sun1, Zhe Liu2, Yinggang Wang1, Qing Luo1,
Su Chen1, Xiaoxu Wang1, Hao Wu1
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1Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Eco-Remediation, Ministry of Education, Shenyang University,
Shenyang, Liaoning Province (110044), China;
2School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
Submission date: 2015-09-05
Final revision date: 2016-04-26
Acceptance date: 2016-04-26
Publication date: 2016-10-05
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(5):2167-2175
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ABSTRACT
The Hun River Basin is one of the most important heavy industrial and agricultural production bases
of China. Its pollution level has exerted negative effects on human health. In order to investigate pollution
levels and estimate the cancer risk of water in the river, water samples were collected in both the flood and
dry periods. Pollution indicators were detected in terms of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The mean concentrations of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd),
PAHs, and PCBs were, respectively, 7.96 μg/L, 0.08 μg/L, 2597.22, and 21.21 ng/L in the flood period,
and 19.02 μg/L, 1.10 μg/L, 1212.91, and 16.69 ng/L in the dry period. The concentrations of heavy metals
were lower in the flood period than those in the dry period. However, in the meantime, contamination by
PAHs and PCBs was heavier in the flood period than those in the dry period – the most abundant being fourring
PAHs and three-Cl PCBs in the flood period, and three-ring PAHs, four-ring PAHs, and four-Cl PCBs
in the dry period. The carcinogenic contribution rate was in the order: Cr> PAHs >PCBs >Cd. The mean
lifetime value of carcinogenic risk was 8.200×10-4, which indicated that there was a risk of cancer associated
with drinking Hun River water.