Title: Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface and subsurface soils in Cixi County
Abstract: Samples of surface and subsurface layers of arable soils in Cixi County were collected and 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the samples were determined by HPLC with a fluorescence detector. The results show that the total PAHs in the surface soils ranged from 70.4 to 325.1 μg·kg-1, dominated by the large molecular weight PAHs with 4 or more aromatic rings. Nap, Phe, Fla, and Pyr were present at relatively high levels. The ratios of Fla/(Fla+pyr) and IcP/(IcP+BgP) indicate that the PAHs in the surface soils are probably originated from the combustion of grass, wood, and coal, and vehicle exhaust. In the subsurface soils, the total PAHs varied from 29.5 to 232.3 μg·kg-1, with 2-ring, and 3-ring PAHs as the predominant compounds. The concentration ratios of individual PAH between the surface soils and the sub-surface soils are significantly correlated with the octanol-water partition coefficient (logKow), indicating that PAHs in the subsurface soils are mainly leached from the upper soils. Transport of each individual PAH in soils may be predicted according to its logKow value. PAHs contents in the subsurface soils are significantly correlated with soil organic matter contents (r=0.836, p0.0001), but not for the surface soils. This suggests that agricultural management may influence the distribution of PAHs in the surface soils.
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 1
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot