Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most widespread and potentially toxic contaminants in Great Lakes (USA/Canada) tributaries. The sources of PAHs are numerous and diverse, and identifying the primary source(s) can be difficult. The present study used multiple lines of evidence to determine the likely sources of PAHs to surficial streambed sediments at 71 locations across 26 Great Lakes Basin watersheds. Profile correlations, principal component analysis, positive matrix factorization source‐receptor modeling, and mass fractions analysis were used to identify potential PAH sources, and land‐use analysis was used to relate streambed sediment PAH concentrations to different land uses. Based on the common conclusion of these analyses, coal‐tar–sealed pavement was the most likely source of PAHs to the majority of the locations sampled. The potential PAH‐related toxicity of streambed sediments to aquatic organisms was assessed by comparison of concentrations with sediment quality guidelines. The sum concentration of 16 US Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutant PAHs was 7.4–196 000 µg/kg, and the median was 2600 µg/kg. The threshold effect concentration was exceeded at 62% of sampling locations, and the probable effect concentration or the equilibrium partitioning sediment benchmark was exceeded at 41% of sampling locations. These results have important implications for watershed managers tasked with protecting and remediating aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1392–1408. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

中文翻译：

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利用多条证据，大湖支流中沉积物多环芳烃的主要来源。

多环芳烃（PAHs）是大湖（美国/加拿大）支流中分布最广，最有毒的污染物之一。PAHs的来源多种多样，因此很难确定主要来源。本研究使用多条证据来确定大湖流域26个集水区中71个地点表层沉积物的多环芳烃的可能来源。剖面相关性，主成分分析，正矩阵分解源-受体模型和质量分数分析被用于识别潜在的PAH来源，土地利用分析被用于将河床沉积物PAH浓度与不同土地利用联系起来。根据这些分析的共同结论，在大多数采样地点，煤焦油密封路面是最有可能产生多环芳烃的源头。通过将浓度与沉积物质量指南进行比较，评估了河床沉积物对水生生物潜在的PAH相关毒性。16种美国环境保护局重点污染物PAH的总浓度为7.4–19.6万微克/千克，中位数为2600微克/千克。在采样位置的62％处超过了阈值影响浓度，在采样位置的41％处超过了可能的影响浓度或平衡分配沉积物基准。这些结果对于负责保护和修复大湖流域水生生境的分水岭管理者具有重要意义。通过将浓度与沉积物质量指南进行比较，评估了河床沉积物对水生生物潜在的PAH相关毒性。16种美国环境保护局重点污染物PAH的总浓度为7.4–19.6万微克/千克，中位数为2600微克/千克。在采样位置的62％处超过了阈值影响浓度，在采样位置的41％处超过了可能的影响浓度或平衡分配沉积物基准。这些结果对于负责保护和修复大湖流域水生生境的分水岭管理者具有重要意义。通过将浓度与沉积物质量指南进行比较，评估了河床沉积物对水生生物潜在的PAH相关毒性。16种美国环境保护局重点污染物PAH的总浓度为7.4–19.6万微克/千克，中位数为2600微克/千克。在采样位置的62％处超过了阈值影响浓度，在采样位置的41％处超过了可能的影响浓度或平衡分配沉积物基准。这些结果对负责保护和修复大湖流域水生生境的分水岭管理者具有重要意义。在采样位置的62％处超过了阈值影响浓度，在采样位置的41％处超过了可能的影响浓度或平衡分配沉积物基准。这些结果对于负责保护和修复大湖流域水生生境的分水岭管理者具有重要意义。在采样位置的62％处超过了阈值影响浓度，在采样位置的41％处超过了可能的影响浓度或平衡分配沉积物基准。这些结果对于负责保护和修复大湖流域水生生境的分水岭管理者具有重要意义。环境毒性化学2020； 39：1392-1408。©2020作者。Wiley Periodicals LLC代表SETAC发布的《环境毒理学和化学》。