Occurrence and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water resources of the typical plain river network area

Abstract

Abstract Drinking water sources play a significant role in providing water for urban residents and public services. The pollution and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water sources have attracted extensive attention. In this study, river water samples were collected from two drinking water resources of the typical plain river network area in eastern China, and tap water samples were collected from public places. The concentration of the 16 priority PAHs in river water and drinking water were determined by SPE-GC-MS. The results indicated that the concentrations of Σ16PAHs ranged 128-183 ng/L in the autumn and 61.3-87.3 ng/L in the winter, respectively. The cancer risks and non-cancer risks of adults associated with drinking water intake were low, but it still deserved more attention.