Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Aquatic Landscapes of the Don River Delta in Winter

• Main Authors: Tkachenko , Oleg V., Tkachenko , Anna N., Lychagin , Michail Yu., Tsibart , Anna S., Koshovskii , Timur S.
• Format: Text
• Language: Russian
• Published: Southern Federal University 2017
• Subjects: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; river delta; aquatic landscapes; ice sheet; bottom sediments; suspended matter; dissolved organic matter; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.23683/0321-3005-2017-2-118-127; https://hub.sfedu.ru/repository/material/800801199/?direct_link=true

The content and composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are evaluated in suspended matter, ice, snow cover and bottom sediments of aquatic landscapes of the Don River delta. PAHs were studied by spectrofloutim-etry at low temperatures. Atmospheric dust in snow cover had concentration from 8 000 to 100 000 ng/g. PAH content in the water ranges from 4 to 77 ng/l in the suspended matter from 700 to 15500 ng/g. Higher values of PAH content are typical for weakly running streams. Major shipping channels have lower concentrations, PAH content in the ice higher than in the water, because of their accumulation on the ice surface due to freezing in a hydrocarbon film. PAH content in the bottom sediments is about 33 ng/g, which is significantly less than the concentration in the suspended matter. The upper layer of sediments with the oxidizing atmosphere has reduced levels of PAH as compared with the lower layers. Individual PAHs are grouped by their ability to conservation in the bottom sediment: (i) ben-zo(ghi)perylene and anthracene have maximum degradation rate; (ii) phenanthrene, naphthalene and benzantracene have an average degradation rate, (iii) benzo(a)pyrene and chrysene are the most stable. The level of the Don River delta pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons estimated as low.