Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Chinese forest soils: profile composition, spatial variations and source apportionment

Abstract

Previous studies reported that forest ecosystems can play a vital role in scavenging anthropogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and act as primary reservoirs of these environmental pollutants. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence, spatial pattern and source apportionment of PAHs across Chinese background forest soils (O- & A-horizons). The 143 soils collected from 30 mountains showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of ∑15PAHs (ng g−1 dw) in O-horizon (222 ± 182) than A-horizon (168 ± 161). A progressive increase in the levels of lighter PAHs was observed along altitudinal gradient, however heavier PAHs did not show any variations. Carbon contents (TOC & BC) of forest soils were found weakly correlated (p < 0.01) with low molecular weight (LMW)-PAHs but showed no relation with high molecular weight (HMW)-PAHs. Source apportionment results using PMF and PCA revealed that PAHs in forest soils mainly come from local biomass burning and/or coal combustion and attributed that forest soils may become a potential sink for PAHs in the region.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation by marine-derived basidiomycetes: optimization of the degradation process

“…High molecular weight (HMW) PAHs (composed by 4–6 aromatic rings), such as pyrene and BaP, are most important in pyrogenic sources and are released into the environment mainly in the form of exhaust and solid residues. 7 , 8 Both of these compounds are classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as priority pollutants 9 , 10 and have been accumulating in sediments due to their limited water solubility and high affinity for particulate matter. 11 …”

Ecotoxicological state and pollution status of alluvial soils of St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

“…deeper horizon (51-63 cm) in the amount of 13.4% (0.39 μg•kg -1 ) of the total content in the section of the South Seaside Park. In the residental areas, as well as in the parks, the mass concentrations of all types of PAHs are much less, but the duration of exposure to the pollution source, as well as the fact that PAHs are carried mainly by air currents, lead to an increase in the content of PAHs in soils (Lodygin et al, 2008;Syed et al, 2017). Therefore, in the South Seaside Park and the 300th anniversary park, we can observe the excess of the MPC to 7 and 9, respectively.…”

Trace metals and PAHs in topsoils of the University campus in the megacity of São Paulo, Brazil

“…This model was developed to source apportionment analysis in environmental studies, which consider the error of instrumental measurements. It is a multivariate analysis technique used in the evaluation and modeling environmental data set such as in lake and river sediments (Bzdusek et al 2006, Comero et al 2014), soils (Vaccaro et al 2007, Syed et al 2017, Guan et al 2018. The analysis was performed for elemental and PAHs concentrations.…”