Natural attenuation, biostimulation and bioaugmentation on biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mangrove sediments

The biodegradability of a mixture of PAHs, namely fluorene (Fl), phenanthrene (Phe) and pyrene (Pyr), in mangrove sediment slurry was investigated. At the end of week 4, natural attenuation based on the presence of autochthonous microorganisms degraded more than 99% Fl and Phe but only around 30% of Pyr were degraded. Biostimulation with addition of mineral salt medium degraded over 97% of all three PAHs, showing that nutrient amendment could enhance Pyr degradation. Bioaugmentation with inoculation of a PAH-degrading bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediments did not show any promotion effect and the degradation percentages of three PAHs were similar to that by natural attenuation. Some inhibitory effect was observed in bioaugmentation treatment in week 1 with only 50% Fl and 70% Phe degraded. These results indicate that autochthonous microbes may interact and even compete with the enriched consortium during PAH biodegradation. Natural attenuation appeared to be the most appropriate way to remedy Fl- and Phe-contaminated mangrove sediments while biostimulation was more capable to degrade Pyr-contaminated sediments. The study also shows that although a large portion of the added PAHs (more than 95%) was adsorbed onto the sediments at the beginning of the experiment, most PAHs were degraded in 4 weeks, suggesting that the degraders could utilize the adsorbed PAHs efficiently.     

Preliminary study on biodegradation of phenanthrene by bacteria isolated from mangrove sediments in Hong Kong

Elevated concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been found in mangrove sediments due to anthropogenic pollution, and microbial degradation has been suggested as the best way to remove PAHs from contaminated sediments. The degradation of phenanthrene, a model PAH compound by bacteria, either the enriched mixed culture or individual isolate isolated from surface mangrove sediments was examined. The effects of salinity, initial phenanthrene concentrations and the addition of glucose on biodegradation potential were also investigated. Results show that surface sediments collected from four mangrove swamps in Hong Kong had different degree of PAH contamination and had different indigenous phenanthrene-degrading bacterial consortia. The enriched bacteria could use phenanthrene as the sole carbon source for growth and degrade this PAH compound accordingly. A significant positive relationship was found between bacterial growth and percentages of phenanthrene degradation. The phenanthrene biodegradation ability of the enriched mixed bacterial culture was not related to the degree of PAH contamination in surface sediments. The growth and biodegradation percentages of the enriched mixed culture were not higher than that of the individual isolate especially at low salinity (0 and 10 ppt). High salinity (35 ppt) inhibited growth and biodegradation of phenanthrene of a bacterial isolate but less inhibitory effect was found on the mixed culture. The inhibitory effects of salinity could be reduced with the addition of glucose.     

河北王快水库沉积物多环芳烃的分布、来源及生态风险评价

对王快水库沉积物中16种多环芳烃含量进行了检测,结果表明,王快水库沉积物多环芳烃含量处于中等污染水平.多环芳烃总含量由库区上游到坝前逐渐升高,多环芳烃总含量在沉积物纵向上的总体分布趋势是随着剖面深度的增加而降低,低环的萘和菲,高环的荧蒽、苯并[b]荧蒽、屈和芘是沉积物中主要的优势化合物,表层和剖面沉积物中多环芳烃的含量与有机碳含量呈正相关关系,相关系数分别为0.8154和0.9534.王快水库沉积物中多环芳烃主要来源化石燃料及生物质的燃烧,风险评价结果表明,严重的多环芳烃生态风险在王快水库沉积物中不存在,但是芴化合物含量超过了风险评价低值,可能存在着对生物的潜在危害.     

Distribution and sources of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in Mangrove surficial sediments of Deep Bay, China

Twelve sediment samples collected from three transects of mangrove swamp of Deep Bay, Shenzhen, China, were determined for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The total PAHs concentrations ranged from 237 to 726 ng g(-1) dry weight, and showed strong correlation with total organic carbon (TOC), clay content and Pb concentrations. The highest PAHs concentrations were found in the samples from mangrove sediments. Overall, PAHs in Deep Bay sediment were lower than those in other developed areas. The biological effect due to PAHs alone in Deep Bay is expected to be low, based on the comparisons of individual and total PAHs concentrations determined in the sediment with those in USEPA sediment quality guidelines. Four and five-ring compounds dominated the PAHs composition pattern profiles. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to further investigate the source of PAHs. The PAH sources of Deep Bay mangrove swamp were suggested to be primarily combustion of fossil fuel, especially leaded-gasoline exhaust.     

Fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in a mangrove swamp in Hong Kong following an oil spill

The fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in a mangrove swamp (Yi O) in Hong Kong after an oil spill accident was investigated. The concentrations and profiles of PAHs in surface sediments collected from five quadrats (each of 10 m×10 m) covering different degrees of oil contamination and the most contaminated mangrove leaves were examined in December 2000 (30 days after the accident) and March 2001 (126 days later). The concentrations of total PAHs in surface sediments ranged from 138 to 2135 ng g⁻¹, and PAHs concentrations decreased with time. In the most contaminated sediments, total PAHs dropped from 2135 (30 days) to 1196 ng g⁻¹ (120 days), and the decrease was smaller in less contaminated sediments. The percentage reduction in sediment PAHs over three months (44%) was less significant than that in contaminated leaves (85%), indicating PAH in or on leaves disappeared more rapidly. The PAH profiles were very similar in sediments collected from quadrats Q1 and Q2 with benzo[a]anthracene and pyrene being the most abundant PAH compounds, but were different in the other three quadrats. The proportion of the light molecular weight PAHs to total PAHs increased after three months, especially phenanthrene. Results suggest that physical and photo-chemical weathering (tidal washing and photo-oxidation) of crude oil in surface sediments and on plant leaves were important processes in the first few months after the oil spill. The PAH contamination in Yi O swamp came from both petrogenic and pyrolytic sources. The petrogenic characteristic in the most contaminated sediment was confirmed with high values of phenanthrene to anthracene ratio (>10) and low values of fluoranthene to pyrene ratio (0.3–0.4).     

Contamination and potential biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mangrove sediments of Xiamen, China

Five stations were established in the Fenglin mangrove area of Xiamen, China to determine the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the numbers of PAH-degrading bacteria in surface sediments. Assessing the biodegradation potential of indigenous microorganisms and isolating the high molecule weight (HMW)-PAH degrading bacteria was also one of the aims of this work. The results showed that the total PAH concentration of sediments was 222.59 ng g(-1) dry weight, whereas the HMW-PAH benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) had the highest concentration among 16 individual PAH compounds. The variation in the numbers of PAH-degrading bacteria was 2.62 x 10(2)-5.67 x 10(4)CFU g(-1) dry weight. The addition of PAHs showed a great influence in increasing the microbial activity in mangrove sediments. A bacterial consortium, which could utilize BaP as the sole source of carbon and energy, and which was isolated from mangrove sediments and enriched in liquid medium for nearly one year degraded 32.8% of BaP after 63 days incubation.     

Isolation, characterization of Rhodococcus sp. P14 capable of degrading high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aliphatic hydrocarbons

Rhodococcus sp. P14 was isolated from crude oil-contaminated sediments. This strain was capable of utilizing three to five rings polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including phenanthrene (Phe), pyrene (Pyr), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) as a sole carbon and energy source. After cultivated with 50mg/L of each PAH, strain P14 removed 43% Phe, 34% Pyr and 30% BaP in 30 d. Four different hydroxyphenanthrene products derived from Phe by strain P14 (1,2,3,4-hydroxyphenanthrene) were detected using SPME-GC-MS. Strain P14 also was capable of degrading mineral oil with n-alkanes of C17 to C21 carbon chain length. Compared with glucose-grown cells, PAHs-grown cells had decreased contents of shorter-chain length fatty acids (≤ C16:0), increased contents of C18:0, Me-C19:0 and disappeared odd-number carbon chain fatty acids. The contents of unsaturated C19:1, Me-C19:0 increased and C18:0 decreased in mineral oil-grown cells. At the same time, the strain P14 tended to float when cultivated in mineral oil-supplemented liquid medium. The degradation capability of P14 to alkane and PAHs and its floating characteristics will be very helpful for future's application in oil-spill bioremediation.     

PAHs contamination and bacterial communities in mangrove surface sediments of the Jiulong River Estuary, China

Sixteen sediment samples collected from eight transects in a mangrove swamp of the Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian, China were investigated for their content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the biodegradation potential of the indigenous microorganisms. The bacterial community structures in the mangrove sediments and in enrichment cultures were also investigated. The results showed that the total PAHs concentration of mangrove sediments ranged from 280 to 1074 ng g(-1) dry weight, that the PAHs composition pattern in the mangrove sediments was dominated by high molecular weight PAH components (4-6 rings), and that Benzo[ghi]perylene and Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were the most dominant at different stations. Abundant PAH-degrading bacteria were found in all the stations, the values of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria ranged from 5.85 x 10(4) to 7.80 x 10(5) CFU g(-1) dry weight, fluoranthene-degrading bacteria ranged from 5.25 x 10(4) to 5.79 x 10(5) CFU g(-1) dry weight, pyrene-degrading bacteria ranged from 3.10 x 10(4) to 6.97 x 10(5) CFU g(-1) dry weight and the benzo(a)pyrene-degrading bacteria ranged from 5.25 x 10(4) to 7.26 x 10(5) CFU g(-1) dry weight. DGGE analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA gene fragments confirmed that there was a remarkable shift in the composition of the bacterial community due to the addition of the different model PAH compound phenanthrene (three ring PAH), fluoranthene(four ring PAH), pyrene(four ring PAH) and benzo(a)pyrene(five ring PAH) during enrichment batch culture. Eleven strains were obtained with different morphology and different degradation ability. The presence of common bands for microbial species in the cultures and in the native mangrove sediment DNA indicated that these strains could be potential in situ PAH-degraders.     

Metal (Al, Fe, Mn and Cu) distributions and origins of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface sediments of the Marmara Sea and the coast of Istanbul, Turkey

In this study, total metal (Al, Fe, Mn and Cu) and PAHs analyses have been done in the surface sediments. Sediment samples have been collected from seven parts of the Marmara Sea and the coast of Istanbul during 2009. Total Al, Fe, Mn and Cu contents vary between 1.8% and 5.4%; 1.1% and 2.8%; 122 and 259 μg g⁻¹; 27 and 416 μg g⁻¹, respectively. EF and CF values of Fe and Mn are lower than 1.5 and 1, respectively, in all the stations. Total PAH contents range between 135 and 6009 ng g⁻¹ in the surface sediments. The origin of PAHs has been found pyrolitic according to the Phe/Ant ratio in the all stations. Contrastingly, at K0, MKC and MY1 Stations, PAH origins have been observed petrogenic according to the Flu/Pyr ratio.     

A case study on fuel oil contamination in a mangrove swamp in Hong Kong

Mangroves commonly found along tropical and subtropical coastlines are susceptible to oil pollution. In December 2000, around 500 1 m tall Kandelia candel saplings at the age of 3–5 years old located at the foreshore region of Sheung Pak Nai swamp, Hong Kong SAR, were found to be damaged by oil pollution. More than 80% of the saplings were either dead or washed away and leaving less than 5% healthy saplings with dense green leaves. Elevated concentrations of light n-alkanes (ranging from n-C₁₄ to n-C₂₀), pristane and phytane were recorded in surface sediments collected in December 2000. The ratio between light and total n-alkanes was 0.4. The total petroleum hydrocarbons (60–80 μg g⁻¹ TPH) and unresolved complex mixtures (60–70 μg g⁻¹ UCM) were higher than the background values of other mangrove sediments in Hong Kong, which were 40 and 20 μg g⁻¹, respectively. In certain root zone sediments, TPH concentrations were above 1000 μg g⁻¹. These results suggest that surface sediments in Sheung Pak Nai were contaminated by petroleum oil, most likely by illegal discharge of fuel oil which occurred between 1998 and 2002. One year later, in December 2001, unhealthy saplings had recovered and re-grown. The concentrations of TPH and UCM in sediments declined to around 40 μg g⁻¹, pristane and phytane dropped by 80%, and the ratio of light to total n-alkanes was 0.15, suggesting that residual oil in sediments was weathered leading to a remarkable recovery of the unhealthy saplings.     

Concentration,composition and sources of PAHs in the coastal sediments of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Qatar,Arabian Gulf

Surface sediments were collected from sixteen locations in order to assess levels and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of Qatar exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Samples were analyzed for 16 parent PAHs, 18 alkyl homologs and for dibenzothiophenes. Total PAHs concentration (∑PAHs) ranged from 2.6 ng g⁻¹ to 1025 ng g⁻¹. The highest PAHs concentrations were in sediments in and adjacent to harbors. Alkylated PAHs predominated most of the sampling locations reaching up to 80% in offshore locations. Parent PAHs and parent high molecular weight PAHs dominated location adjacent to industrial activities and urban areas. The origin of PAHs sources to the sediments was elucidated using ternary plot, indices, and molecular ratios of specific compounds such as (Ant/Phe + Ant), (Flt/Flt + Pyr). PAHs inputs to most coastal sites consisted of mixture of petroleum and combustion derived sources. However, inputs to the offshore sediments were mainly of petroleum origin.     

Comet assay for the detection of genotoxicity in blood cells of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to sediments and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

To investigate the genotoxic effect of marine sediments on aquatic organism, sediment samples were collected from 13 sites along the coast of Gwangyang Bay (Korea). Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments were determined and the relationship between exposure of flounder blood cells to sediment extracts and DNA single-strand breakage in the blood cells was examined using the comet assay. Levels of DNA damage were proportionally increased by exposure concentration and the highest sediment-associated DNA damage was observed at the station showing the highest PAHs contamination. DNA damage in blood cells exposed to five types of PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, anthracene, pyrene and phenanthrene) and in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) for 0, 2 and 4 days were assessed by measuring comet tail length. The tail lengths of five PAHs-exposed groups at 50 and 100 ppb were significantly different from the non-exposed group, and the genotoxic effect of BaP correlated with both concentration and duration of exposure. Throughout the study, significant differences in DNA breakage were recorded between cells exposed to sediment extracts or PAHs and non-exposed control. This study demonstrated the comet assay as a successful tool in monitoring contamination of marine sediments and assessing genotoxicity of PAHs in marine organisms, either in vitro or in vivo.     

Abilities and genes for PAH biodegradation of bacteria isolated from mangrove sediments from the central of Thailand

PAH-degrading bacteria, including Novosphingobium sp. PCY, Microbacterium sp. BPW, Ralstonia sp. BPH, Alcaligenes sp. SSK1B, and Achromobacter sp. SSK4, were isolated from mangrove sediments. These isolates degraded 50–76% of 100 mg/l phenanthrene within 2 weeks. Strains PCY and BPW also degraded pyrene at 98% and 71%, respectively. Furthermore, all of them probably produced biosurfactants in the presence of hydrocarbons. Interestingly, PCY has a versatility to degrade various PAHs. Molecular techniques and plasmid curing remarkably revealed the presence of the alpha subunit of pyrene dioxygenase gene (nidA), involving in its pyrene/phenanthrene degrading ability, located on megaplasmid of PCY which has never before been reported in sphingomonads. Moreover, genes encoding ferredoxin, reductase, extradiol dioxygenase (bphA3A4C) and exopolysaccharide biosynthetase, which may be involved in PAH degradation and biosurfactant production, were also found in PCY. Therefore, we conclude that these isolates, especially PCY, can be the candidates for use as inoculums in the bioremediation.     

Comparison of fate profiles of PAHs in soil,sediments and mangrove leaves after oil spills by QSAR and QSPR

First order removal rates for 15 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil, sediments and mangrove leaves were compared in relation to the parameters used in fate transport analyses (i.e., octanol–water partition coefficient, organic carbon–water partition coefficient, solubility, diffusivity in water, HOMO–LUMO gap, molecular size, molecular aspect ratio). The quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR) and quantitative structure property relationships (QSPR) showed that the rate of disappearance of PAHs is correlated with their diffusivities in water as well as molecular volumes in different media. Strong correlations for the rate of disappearance of PAHs in sediments could not be obtained in relation to most of the parameters evaluated. The analyses showed that the QSAR and QSPR correlations developed for removal rates of PAHs in soils would not be adequate for sediments and plant tissues.     

Concentration of 7 Heavy Metals in Sediments and Mangrove Root Samples from Mai Po, Hong Kong

Concentration of 7 heavy metals, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni in mudflat sediments, mangrove root sediments and root tissues of Acanthus ilicifolius, Aegicerus corniculatum and Kandelia candel from the Mai Po Nature Reserve, Northwest Hong Kong, were measured. Metal concentrations in the upper 0–10 cm of the sediment cores from the mudflat were 4–25% higher than those found in the bottom 21–30 cm. Relative Topsoil Enrichment Index approximated 1.0 for all the metals. Mudflat sediment concentrations of Fe, Ni, Cr, Cd and Cu were greater than those found in the mangrove sediments. Except for Fe, concentrations of the other 6 heavy metals were more elevated in the mangrove root sediments than in the corresponding root samples. Higher concentration factors for Zn, Fe and Cu may indicate bioaccumulation. Mean metal concentrations in both mudflat and mangrove sediments decreased in the order Fe > Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cr > Cd. Mangrove root tissues also showed the same pattern except that Pb > Cu > Ni     

Biological risk and pollution history of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Nansha mangrove,South China

Chinese government has taken various measures to alleviate pollution caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the region of Pearl River Delta since the economic reform in 1978, but the effectiveness of these measures remains largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the biological risk and pollution history of PAHs by measuring the concentrations of 28 PAHs in the surface and core sediments, respectively, in Nansha mangrove. Results found that the biological risk of PAHs was low without obvious spatial variation. The PAH concentration along the depth gradient indicated that PAH pollution was stabilized since the early 1990s while the source of PAHs has gradually changed from combustion of coal to petroleum products. This implied that the mitigation measures taken by the Chinese government were effective. Compared to marine bottom sediment, we propose that using mangrove sediment can provide a more accurate and precise estimate of pollution history of PAHs.     

Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in marine biota and coastal sediments from the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman

The composition and spatial distribution of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in biota and coastal sediments from four countries surrounding the Gulf (Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman). The levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), aliphatic unresolved mixture and PAHs in sediments and biota were relatively low compared to world-wide locations reported to be chronically contaminated by oil. Only in the case of the sediments collected near the BAPCO oil refinery in Bahrain, having concentrations of 779 μg g⁻¹ total petroleum hydrocarbon equivalents and 6.6 μg g⁻¹ ∑PAHs, can they be categorized as chronically contaminated. Some evidence of oil contamination was also apparent in sediments and bivalves around Akkah Head and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and near Mirbat in Oman. Contaminant patterns in sediments and biota indicated that the PAHs were mainly from fossil sources, with the exception of the high PAH concentrations in sediments near the BAPCO refinery that contained substantial concentrations of carcinogenic PAH combustion products.     

PAHs contamination and bacterial communities in mangrove surface sediments of the Jiulong River Estuary,China

Sixteen sediment samples collected from eight transects in a mangrove swamp of the Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian, China were investigated for their content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the biodegradation potential of the indigenous microorganisms. The bacterial community structures in the mangrove sediments and in enrichment cultures were also investigated. The results showed that the total PAHs concentration of mangrove sediments ranged from 280 to 1074 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, that the PAHs composition pattern in the mangrove sediments was dominated by high molecular weight PAH components (4–6 rings), and that Benzo[ghi]perylene and Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were the most dominant at different stations. Abundant PAH-degrading bacteria were found in all the stations, the values of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria ranged from 5.85 × 10⁴ to 7.80 × 10⁵ CFU g⁻¹ dry weight, fluoranthene-degrading bacteria ranged from 5.25 × 10⁴ to 5.79 × 10⁵ CFU g⁻¹ dry weight, pyrene-degrading bacteria ranged from 3.10 × 10⁴ to 6.97 × 10⁵ CFU g⁻¹ dry weight and the benzo(a)pyrene-degrading bacteria ranged from 5.25 × 10⁴ to 7.26 × 10⁵ CFU g⁻¹ dry weight. DGGE analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA gene fragments confirmed that there was a remarkable shift in the composition of the bacterial community due to the addition of the different model PAH compound phenanthrene (three ring PAH), fluoranthene(four ring PAH), pyrene(four ring PAH) and benzo(a)pyrene(five ring PAH) during enrichment batch culture. Eleven strains were obtained with different morphology and different degradation ability. The presence of common bands for microbial species in the cultures and in the native mangrove sediment DNA indicated that these strains could be potential in situ PAH-degraders.     

Effectiveness of bacterial inoculum and mangrove plants on remediation of sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The remediation of mangrove sediment contaminated with mixed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) having 3-, 4- and 5-rings by natural attenuation, bioaugmentation, phytoremediation and its combination was compared by greenhouse microcosm studies. At Days 90 and 154, the decreases of PAHs in contaminated mangrove sediment by phytoremediation, planted with one-year old Aegiceras corniculatum, and bioaugmentation, the inoculation of PAH-degrading bacterial strains isolated from mangrove sediment, either SCSH (Mycobacterium parafortuitum) or SAFY (Sphingobium yanoikuyae), were not better than that by natural attenuation (the non-vegetated and un-inoculated microcosms). The populations of SCSH and SAFY in sediment could not be maintained even with repeated inoculation, suggesting that the two isolates were not able to compete with the indigenous microbes and had little enhancement effect. Although some PAHs were accumulated in roots, root uptake only accounted for <15% of the spiked PAHs and the effect of plants on remediation were also insignificant. At the end of the 154-day experiment, the mass balance calculation revealed that the overall losses of PAHs by phytoremediation were comparable to that by bioaugmentation but were lower than that by natural attenuation, especially for the high molecular weight PAHs. Under natural attenuation, around 90% fluorene, 80% phenanthrene, 70% fluoranthene, 68% pyrene and 32% benzo[a]pyrene in contaminated sediment were removed. These results demonstrated that the mangrove sediment itself had sufficient indigenous microorganisms capable of naturally remedying PAH contamination.     

POPs and their ecological risk in sewage sludge of waste water treatment plants in Beijing, China

The concentrations of three classes of persistent organic compounds (POPs) in the sewage sludge from 12 Beijing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were investigated and their ecological risks were assessed. The concentrations of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 27 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) and 15 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sewage sludge were measured using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) technique. Total PAHs concentrations ranged from 445.1 to 3,586.4 ng g^?1 dry weight (dw), and the sum of the phenanthrene (Phe), anthracene (Ant), naphthalene (Nap), fluoranthene and chrysene accounted for 69.3–97.0 % of the total PAHs. The most abundant compounds present were 2-ring and 3-ring Ant, Phe and Nap, indicating a possible petrogenic source. Total PCBs concentrations were ranged between 3.2 and 21.8 ng g^?1 dw. Total OCPs concentrations ranged from 38.0 to 143.3 ng g^?1 dw, and the sum of total DDT, HCB and HCHs accounted for 69.6–97.7 % of the total OCPs. The levels of PAHs, PCBs and OCPs in this study were comparable to or lower than those reported in relatively WWTPs from other regions. In addition, they were also shown to have various distribution patterns, possibly due to their different wastewater sources. The 12 WWTPs may be classified into 4 groups because of their different sources of waste water based on cluster analysis. The ecological risk assessment shows that the concentrations of Ant or Fla at two sites, p,p′-DDE and ∑DDT at 83 % of the 12 sites may cause adverse ecological effects.