Origins of suspended particulate matter based on sterol distribution in low salinity water mass observed in the offshore East China Sea

Kim M 1 , Jung JH 1 , Jin Y 1 , Han GM 1 , Lee T 2 , Hong SH 1 Show all authors , Yim UH 1 , Shim WJ 1 , Choi DL 3 , Kannan N 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea
  • 2 Jeju International Marine Science Research and Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 2670 Iljudong-ro, Jeju 63349, Republic of Korea
  • 3 South Sea Environment Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea
  • 4 Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, 41 Jangmok-1-gil, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Faculty of Environmental Studies, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: drnkannan@upm.edu.my
Mar Pollut Bull, 2016 Jul 15;108(1-2):281-8.
PMID: 27167134 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.04.049

Abstract

The molecular composition and distribution of sterols were investigated in the East China Sea to identify the origins of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in offshore waters influenced by Changjiang River Diluted Water (CRDW). Total sterol concentrations ranged from 3200 to 31,900pgL(-1) and 663 to 5690pgL(-1) in the particulate and dissolved phases, respectively. Marine sterols dominated representing 71% and 66% in the particulate and dissolved phases, respectively. Typical sewage markers, such as coprostanol, were usually absent at ~250km offshore. However, sterols from allochthonous terrestrial plants were still detected at these sites. A negative relationship was observed between salinity and concentrations of terrestrial sterols in SPM, suggesting that significant amounts of terrestrial particulate matter traveled long distance offshore in the East China Sea, and the Changjiang River Diluted Water (CRDW) was an effective carrier of land-derived particulate organic matter to the offshore East China Sea.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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