Level and Source of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in River Water and Runoff from Danjiangkou Reservoir Area, China

The Haoping river, a second grade tributary of Danjiangkou reservoir, was selected as the studying region. To find out the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) pollution level, the distribution of PAH in river water and runoff, the perhaps PAH pollution source, the artificial runoff pools were built, the samples of river water and runoff were collected and the levels and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the samples above were studied. It was found that: i) the PAHs content in the level water period (April) is higher than that in low water period (June) and abundant period (Sept.); ii) the runoff volume and the total PAHs content in runoff increase with the land slope; iii) the main source of PAHs from river water and runoff was combustion sources, such as coal and timber, and only a litter from the leak of petroleum products.