Historical records and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediment from a representative plateau lake, China

The PAH and OCP concentrations in sediment cores collected from a deep lake were measured and evaluated chronologically. The results indicated that the PAH and OCP concentrations significantly increased from the 1950s to the 1990s and subsequently decreased to recent years. Integrated molecular diagnostic ratios indicated that the predominant petrogenic sources occurred from the 1950s–1980s. Petroleum and fuel combustion dominated the source of contamination more recently as a result of energy structure changes in this region. Additionally, HCHs and DDTs were the dominant OCP compounds, making up a majority of the total OCPs present (>85%). HCHs accounted for a larger ratio of the OCPs between the 1950s and 1980s, suggesting that HCHs were the dominant POPs in this period. DDTs then became dominant in the 1980s and later. High α/γ-HCH ratios suggested that the emission and conversion of local technical HCHs were the predominant HCHs source. The ratios of (DDE + p,p’-DDD)/DDTs and p,p’-DDT/DDTs indicated that the DDTs mainly originated from historical input. In addition, the dramatic decrease since the 1980s may be the result of China’s banning of DDTs. However, DDTs were still present in the 1990s, suggesting DDTs were still used in this region and beyond. [Display omitted] •The sources of organic contaminants in sediment core were identified.•Historical changes of PAH and OCP concentrations were reconstructed.•Organic contaminant concentrations reached peak values in the 1980s and 1990s.•HCHs and DDTs made up more than 85% of the total OCPs.