Notice of Retraction Interpretation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contaminants and Soil Properties of Surface Sediment in Dapeng Bay and Neighbouring Rivers

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and properties in surface sediment samples collected from 31 locations in Dapeng Bay and neighbouring rivers (Kaoping River, Tungkang River and Linpang River), southern Taiwan were analyzed. Principal component factor analysis was performed to explain the latent factors and spatial variations of sediment quality. The result shows that the most important latent factors in Dapeng Bay and neighbouring rivers on wet seasons are the soil texture caused factor, the PAHs caused factor, and the nutrient caused factor. Contour maps incorporating the factor scores showed phenanthrene (Phn) and pyrene (Pyr) of PAHs had the highest content at the entrance of the northern side of the lagoon compared with other sites. Benzopyrene (BaP) had the highest content located in mid-section of the Kaoping River and in Dapeng Bay. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphate (TP) had the highest content in the last-section of Tungkang River. The three river sediment properties were mainly influenced by industrial and domestic wastewater and agricultural activities including farm and livestock rearing activities. The inlet and the far reaches of Dapeng Bay had sediment properties that had suffered from the drainage of domestic and agricultural wastewater and might affected by complicated biogeochemical responses. Our results yield useful information concerning estuary recovery and water resources management and may be applicable to other basins with similar characteristics that are experiencing similar coastal environmental issues.