Exploring the Cumulative Selectivity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Phytoplankton, Water, and Sediment in Typical Urban Water Bodies

Abstract

To understand the interactions among eutrophication, algal bloom, and POPs (persistent organic pollutants) in freshwater ecosystems, the cumulative selectivity of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in phytoplankton, water, and sediment with different eutrophication level waters were identified in a typical plain river network region located in Nanjing City. Results showed that a total of 33 algal species belonging to 27 genera and 4 phyla were identified in 15 sites of urban water bodies, and most of them belonged to the type Cyanobacteria–Bacillariophyta. The eutrophication level of these rivers and lakes led to the sample site specificity of algal composition and abundance. The planktonic algae mainly accumulated the 2-ring and 3-ring PAHs, and the sediment mainly enriched the high-ring PAHs. However, the enrichment capacity of planktonic algae on PAHs was much higher than that of sediment. Cyanophyta and some species of Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta in mesotrophic (βm) and meso-eutrophic water bodies (ßαm) preferentially accumulated lower-ring PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthylene, and phenanthrene). Some other specific algae species, such as Euglenophyta, some species of Bacillariophyta, and most Chlorophyta in mesotrophic and moderate eutrophic water bodies, had strong capacities to enrich high-ring PAHs subsuming benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, and anthracene. The eutrophication level of water bodies affected the cumulative selectivity of PAHs by shaping the site specificity of phytoplankton composition, which may be related to water quality, sediment characteristics, phytoplankton composition, and the algal cell walls.