Spatial Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contaminants after Hurricane Harvey in a Houston Neighborhood

Abstract

Background. Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane on August 25, 2017, producing unprecedented precipitation that devastated coastal areas. Catastrophic flooding in the City of Houston inundated industrial and residential properties resulting in the displacement and transfer of soil, sediment, and debris and heightening existing environmental justice (EJ) concerns. Objectives. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the presence, distribution, and potential human health implications of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a residential neighborhood of Houston, Texas following a major hurricane. Methods. Concentrations of PAHs in 40 soil samples collected from a residential neighborhood in Houston, Texas were measured. Spatial interpolation was applied to determine the distribution of PAHs. Potential human health risks were evaluated by calculating toxicity equivalency quotients (TEQs) and incremental excess lifetime cancer risk (IELCR). Results. Total priority PAH concentrations varied across samples (range: 9.7 × 101 ng/g-1.6 × 104 ng/g; mean: 3.0 × 103 ng/g ± 3.6 × 103 standard deviation). Spatial analysis indicated a variable distribution of PAH constituents and concentrations. The IELCR analysis indicated that nine of the 40 samples were above minimum standards. Conclusions. Findings from this study highlight the need for fine scale soil testing in residential areas as well as the importance of site-specific risk assessment. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Potential Human Health Hazard of Post-Hurricane Harvey Sediments in Galveston Bay and Houston Ship Channel: A Case Study of Using In Vitro Bioactivity Data to Inform Risk Management Decisions

“…The event, from both rainfall and coastal flooding, resulted in broad redistribution of sediments in the Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay, including deposition of sediment known to be contaminated by a variety of chemicals [ 2 , 46 , 47 ] on shore in densely-populated residential areas. Previous studies documented redistribution of PAHs and other chemicals after Hurricane Harvey [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 48 , 49 ]. While the data on chemical contaminants in soil, water, or sediment samples would be typically used as a basis for risk management and remediation decisions [ 50 ], the distribution of the contaminants in affected areas is difficult to ascertain with precision over large areas of potential impact.…”

“…The sediments in the Galveston Bay are known to be contaminated by various types of hazardous chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polycyclic biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and heavy metals [ 2 ]. Indeed, recent studies indicated that post-Harvey, pollutants such as PAHs were redistributed in the environmental matrixes such as sediments [ 3 , 4 ] and soil [ 5 , 6 ], leading to potential new human health risks. Because disasters are emergency events, there is a pressing need to develop methods for rapid and comprehensive assessments of potential exposures to, and hazards of, complex environmental mixtures.…”

Human Health Assessment of Sixteen Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Contaminated Soils of Northwestern Algeria

“…As shown in Table 6 , the average values of total ILCRs calculated for the study area were similar to results found by Zha et al (2018) in Nanjing, China. 10 …”

“…9 Most of the questions about the toxicological effects of PAHs on humans are related to their carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and endocrine disruption. 10 Furthermore, PAH toxicity may have estrogen and antiestrogen effects, which may influence the risk of breast cancer, stomach cancer, dermatitis, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia. 11 , 12 The soil system is considered to be a good reservoir of organic contaminants, including PAH compounds, owing to their ubiquity, stability, and long-term enrichment in soils.…”

“…9 Health and cancer risk evaluations focused on various methods of specific exposure criteria and age ranges have been extensively described for populations in various locations around the world, but there are only a few cases of studies recorded for the African community in this context. 10 , 14 – 17 It is therefore necessary to assess the potentially harmful effects of PAHs in soils in order to inform future remediation decisions. 18 …”