Concentrations and possible sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in the surface water of the Yangtze River Delta, China

In this study, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pollution in the surface water of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) was investigated. A total of 26 samples were collected from water bodies in three cities within the YRD during the dry season from October to November of 2009. The total PCBs (dissolved plus particulate) ranged from 1.23 to 16.6 ng L(-1) and were dominated by tri-, tetra-, and penta-chlorinated biphenyls. The mean PCBs in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Yangtze River were 8.84 and 3.36 ng L(-1), respectively. A t-test showed that there were no significant differences in the concentration of samples from the metropolitan area and the development zone. According to the Chinese national environmental quality standards for surface water (GB 3838-2002), the concentrations of PCBs observed in this study do not pose a hazard to aquatic or human health. Overall, this study described the PCB concentration and homolog distribution patterns in one of the most rapidly developing areas in China, and the results can be used as reference levels for future PCB monitoring programs.