[Application of automated identification and quantification system with a database (AIQS-DB) to screen organic pollutants in surface waters from Yellow River and Yangtze River].

Approximately 1 000 chemicals were screened in surface waters from downstreams of Yellow River and Yangtze River using GC-MS coupled with Automated Identification and Quantification System with a Database (AIQS-DB). 95 pollutants were detected in water samples from Yellow River in Shandong Province and 121 in those from Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province. The pollutants involved n-alkanes, PAHs, phenols, nitro compounds, phthalates esters (PAEs), pesticides and pharmaceuticals, etc. The average concentrations of n-alkanes, 16 priority PAHs and 6 priority PAEs were 1 806 ng/L, 27 ng/L, 77 ng/L in water samples from Yellow River and 720 ng/L, 30 ng/L, 2 166 ng/L in water samples from Yangtze River respectively. Besides, 9 and 11 pesticides were detected in water samples from Yellow River and Yangtze River respectively. The levels of pollutants showed stronger site dependence in samples from Yellow River than those from Yangtze River. Combination of GC-MS and AIQS-DB shows high efficiency in regional pollutants survey.