Multivariate Analysis for Assessing Sources, and Potential Risks of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Lisbon Urban Soils

Abstract

Urban soils quality may be severely affected by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination, as is the case of Lisbon (Portugal). However, to conduct a risk assessment analysis in an urban area can be a very difficult task due to the patchy nature and heterogeneity of these soils. Thus, the present study aims to provide an example on how to perform the first tier of a risk assessment plan in the case of urban soils using a simpler, cost effective, and reliable framework. Thus, a study was conducted in Lisbon to assess the levels of PAH, their potential risks to the environment and human health, and to identify their major sources. Source apportionment was performed by studying PAHs profiles, their relationship with potentially toxic elements, and general characteristics of soil using multivariate statistical methods. Results showed that geostatistical tools are useful for evaluating the spatial distribution and major inputs of PAHs in urban soils, as well as to identify areas of potential concern, showing their usefulness in risk assessment analysis and urban planning. Particularly, the prediction maps obtained allowed for a clear identification of areas with the highest levels of PAHs (close to the airport and in the city center). The high concentrations found in soils from the city center should be a result of long-term accumulation due to diffuse pollution mostly from traffic (through atmospheric emissions, tire debris and fuel exhaust, as well as pavement debris). Indeed, most of the sites sampled in the city center were historical gardens and parks. The calculation of potential risks based on different models showed that there is a high discrepancy among guidelines, and that risks will be extremely associated with the endpoint or parameters used in the different models. Nevertheless, this initial approach based on total levels was useful for identifying areas where a more detailed risk assessment is needed (close to the airport and in the city center). Therefore, the use of prediction maps can be very useful for urban planning, for example, by crossing information obtained with land uses, it is possible to define the most problematic areas (e.g., playgrounds and schools).

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Contamination of Soil in an Industrial Zone and Evaluation of Pollution Sources

“…In this study, the total concentration of the PAHs ranged from 0.36 to 11.49 mg/kg, with mean values of 1.99 mg/kg. Mean values indicated that soil were heavily contaminated against the permissible limits of 1 mg/kg [17] and polluted with pollutant of class III ranging from 1 to 5 mg/kg [19] Values are in line with the values which were found during research in Lisbon Urban Soils [18] and urban soils of southern Poland [10].…”

Using Toxic Equivalent Quotients (TEQs) to Evaluate the Risk of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Compounds in Soil at Basrah Governorate, Iraq

“…g -1 . This indicates that oil areas have high levels of carcinogenic dangerous compounds that harm workers and humans in surrounding and Cachada et al (2019), and it was near to the study of Moore et al (2015).…”

“…These ubiquitous pollutants are distributed in environment and transport from soil to groundwater and plants causing human health risk (Cipa et al, 2018). PAHs compounds are very toxic and characterized for their potential influences of carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and teratogenicity, which are serious to human health due to their tendency to accumulate in the food chain (Cachada et al, 2019). Exposure to these compounds can cause many problems to human including irritation (eyes, skin, and mucous membranes), reduces the function bone marrow, weakness in nervous system and many types of cancers (Moore et al, 2015).…”

Benzo[a]pyrene sourcing and abundance in a Coal Region in Transition reveals historical pollution, rendering soil screening levels impractical.

“…Given that these compounds are carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and toxic to all living organisms, there is a need to monitor their concentration in soils [6,56]. PAHs are listed as priority pollutants by the European Union and the United States Environmental Protection Agency [14, 20,55], and they are becoming increasingly studied and tracked in soils worldwide [1,11,23,64].PAHs are often divided into 16 priority compounds. Among them, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is one of the most hazardous because of its carcinogenic and mutagenic properties and its persistence and bioaccumulation in the environment [66,78].…”

“…Given that these compounds are carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and toxic to all living organisms, there is a need to monitor their concentration in soils [6,56]. PAHs are listed as priority pollutants by the European Union and the United States Environmental Protection Agency [14, 20,55], and they are becoming increasingly studied and tracked in soils worldwide [1,11,23,64].…”