N-Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) profile of soil from some polluted sites in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Soil samples were collected at different locations from Etche and Obio Akpor local government area (LGA) of River State in Niger Delta. The n-alkane and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determined qualitatively and quantitatively using GC-FID. The concentration of PAHs in the soil samples ranged from 7.40 to 78.3 ng/g. The highest concentration of PAHs was recorded in Agbada 1 flow station, while the lowest concentration was recorded in Agbada 2 flow station. A significant level of pollution was also observed in the soil of Bomu pipeline at Obio Akpor LGA. Also, the distribution of n-alkanes in the samples was also used to assess the level of pollution in the studied area. Various n-alkanes and PAHs ratios were obtained to know the major source of pollution in the area under study. The main source of pollution was pyrolytic, which might be due to the gas flaring activities going on in the study area. Also, the results showed that n-alkanes could also be a complementary tool in assessing pollution and source apportionment.     

Urban and suburban storm water runoff as a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to Massachusetts estuarine and coastal environments

Urban and suburban storm water runoff from ten locations in eastern Massachusetts was analyzed for 39 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds. Similar profiles in PAH composition were observed for groups of samples and appear to reflect land use. The largest group includes, urban storm water from areas with a mix of industrial, commercial, and residential use. Fluoranthene, phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo (b) fluoranthene were the predominant compounds in this group, but lighter molecular weight PAHs were also present. Sources of PAHs to storm water include a combination of petroleum and combustion. The profile of PAH compounds in local atmospheric deposition was similar to urban storm water, but differed in several of the predominant compounds. PAHs in storm water could increase the levels of these compounds in nearshore sediments and may be the most important source of high molecular weight PAHs to these environments.     

Characterization and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments in the Yellow River Estuary, China

Concentrations and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in surface sediments of the Yellow River Estuary (YRE). The isobath-parallel tidal and residual currents play important roles in the variation of PAH distribution, such that the contamination level of PAHs in fine-grained sediments is significantly higher than in the relatively coarse grain size sediments. Both diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA) with multivariate linear regression (MLR) were used to apportion sources of PAHs. The results revealed that pyrogenic sources are important sources of PAHs. Further analysis indicated that the contributions of coal combustion, traffic-related pollution and mixed sources (spills of oil products and vegetation combustion) were 35, 29 and 36 %, respectively, using PCA/MLR. Pyrogenic sources (coal combustion and traffic-related pollution) contribute 64 % of anthropogenic PAHs in sediments, which indicates that energy consumption could be a predominant factor in PAH pollution of YRE. Acenaphthylene and acenaphthene are the two main species of PAHs with more ecotoxicological concern in YRE.     

Ultrasonic wave extraction and simultaneous analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic esters in soil

A method is developed for detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and Phthalic Acid Esters(PAEs) in soil samples. Ultrasonic Wave Extraction under airtight circumstances is adopted to extract the analytes in soil samples with n-hexane–acetone(V:V=1:1) as extraction solvent. This method has several advantages, including high extraction efficiency, short time, convenience and simplicity. It can be used to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and Phthalic Acid Esters(PAEs) in soil.     

Significance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Permian/Triassic boundary sections

In this study the abundances of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs Table 1, I–XXI) have been measured throughout three Permian/Triassic (P/Tr) sections from Meishan (South China), Kap Stosch area (East Greenland) and Peace River Basin (Western Canada). Dibenzothiophene (I) and dibenzofuran (II) were found to decrease in abundance just before or shortly after the P/Tr transition in all three sections while perylene (III) was observed to increase in abundance at the onset of the main extinction horizon (bed 25) in Meishan. Perylene has been attributed to a wood degrading fungal source and, therefore, it seems possible these phenomena are related to the demise of land plants. Further, distinct patterns of various combustion-derived PAHs occurring in each section imply that forest fire events occurred within the Late Permian and Early Triassic. In the Meishan section high amounts of combustion-derived PAHs [pyrene (IV), fluoranthene (V), benzo[a]anthracene (VI), benzofluoranthenes (sum, i.e. VII), benzo[a]pyrene (VIII), benzo[e]pyrene (IX) and coronene (X)] occur within bed 25, also containing ash attributed to the fallout from massive volcanic eruptions in Siberia and/or China.     

Toxicity and genotoxicity of industrial soils polluted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Three soil samples polluted by PAH were assessed for both acute (Vibrio fischeri [Microtox® test], Daphnia magna, Thamnocephalus platyurus) and chronic (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) toxicity, as well as for genotoxicity (Vibrio fischeri M169, [Mutatox® test]). Bioassays were performed on soil water leachates and on soil solvent extracts to characterise not only the fraction of water soluble pollutants but also to evaluate less soluble and soil-bound pollutants. The toxicity of the water leachates was low to moderate (from 0 to 30 toxic units) whereas the toxicity of the methanol extracts was about 100 to 10,000 toxic units. Although only slightly toxic, the genotoxicity of water leachates was clearly demonstrated. This finding shows that acute and chronic toxicity assays alone may not be sufficient to characterize soil hazards. A step procedure to characterise soil ecotoxicity is therefore proposed which allows one to study the pollutant mobility, toxicity and genotoxicity. It can be used to identify the hazard, to classify soil hazards and thus map contaminated sites, to assess the success of treatment and finally to monitor rehabilitated sites.     

广州市空气颗粒物中烃类物质的粒径分布

用 Andersen六段分级大流量采样器 (粒径为 : 10～ 7.2 μ m, 7.2～ 3.0 μ m, 3.0～ 1.5 μ m, 1.5～ 0.95 μ m, 0.95～ 0.49 μ m, ≤ 0.49 μ m)采集了广州市荔湾区 4个季度的大气颗粒物样品 , 用气相色谱 (GC)定量分析了其中的正构烷烃 (n-alkanes)组分,用气相色谱-质谱 (GC-MS)定量分析了其中的多环芳烃 (PAHs)组分. CPI2(代表石油成因的碳优势指数 )、 CPI3(代表生物成因的碳优势指数 ) 和 Wax(植物蜡含量 )表明了石油成因的烷烃倾向于富集在细颗粒物上,而生物成因的烷烃倾向于富集在粗颗粒物上.正构烷烃和低相对分子质量多环芳烃表现出双峰模型分布,高相对分子质量多环芳烃呈现单峰模型分布,仅在细颗粒段有一峰值.烷烃和芳烃秋冬季的 MMDs(质量中值直径 )比春夏季的大.在高温季节化合物优先富集在细颗粒物上,而在低温季节则向粗的颗粒物方向偏移.     

Pollution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） in oily sludge from the Zhongyuan Oilfield and its peripheral soils

The purpose of this study is to determine the degree of contamination caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oily sludge and soils around it in the Zhongyuan Oilfield. The contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in oily sludge samples were determined with HPLC. The contents of PAHs of oily sludge from three different oil production plants vary from high to low in the order of the Wenming oily sludge dumping site of No. 3 Oil Production Plant (3W)>the Mazhai oily sludge dumping site of No. 3 Oil Production Plant (3M)>the Wen’er oily sludge dumping site of No. 4 Oil Production Plant (4W). Naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorine and phenanthrene are the major pollutants of PAHs in oily sludge. The contents of PAHs in soil samples around the oily sludge dumping sites vary widely from 434.49 to 2408.8 ng/g. Naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorine, phenanthrene and pyrene are the characteristic factors of PAHs in soil samples of 3M and 3W, and naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorine and phenanthrene are the characteristic factors of PAHs in soil samples of 4W. According to these data and the ratios of Fl/Py, PAHs in oily sludge samples come mainly from petrogenic sources, and soil samples are divided into petrogenic soil samples and mixed-source soil samples, and both petrogenic and pyrogenic soil samples in terms of the sources of PAHs. The classification by Nemero index P indicates that soils around the oily sludge dumping sites have been seriously polluted.     

Sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to northwestern Saskatchewan lakes east of the Athabasca oil sands

The past several decades have witnessed a significant expansion of mining activities in the Athabasca oil sands region, raising concerns about their impact on the surrounding boreal forest ecosystem. To better understand the extent to which distal sites are impacted by oil sands-derived airborne contaminants, we examine sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments and dated sediment cores from Saskatchewan lakes situated ∼100–220 km east–northeast of the main area of bitumen mining activities. The concentrations and fluxes of both parent and alkylated PAHs are low and show considerable variability over the past 70–100 years. Small yet discernible increases in PAH concentrations and fluxes occurred over the past 30 years, a trend which coincides with the rapid growth in bitumen production. However, several lines of evidence point to wildfires as the principal source of PAHs to these lakes: (1) the significant co-variations in most cores between retene (1-methyl-7-isopropyl phenanthrene) and other groups of parent and alkylated PAHs, (2) the similarity in compound specific δ¹³C signatures of the parent PAHs phenanthrene and pyrene in recently deposited surficial sediments and those corresponding to time intervals considerably pre-dating the large scale development of the oil sands and (3) the discernible up-core increases in the proportion of refractory carbon (i.e., char) in Rock-Eval 6 data. The collective evidence points to softwood combustion from boreal forest fires as the principal source of retene in sediments and the general increase in forest fire activity in this region over the past several decades as the source of refractory carbon. Mining activities associated with the Athabasca oil sands are thus not considered a major source of PAHs to these lakes.     

Phytotoxicity of ancient gaswork soils. Effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on plant germination

The phytotoxicity of various contaminated soils was assessed by plant inventories on ancient industrial fields and by phytotoxicity tests. Industrial fields are well colonised by numerous weedy plants. Phytotoxicity was tested with pure PAHs, ancient industrial soils, soil leaches, liquid tar and tar volatile compounds. Both field studies and toxicity tests show that contaminated samples can be classified into two categories: first, a recently excavated soil/liquid tar that was foul-smelling and phytotoxic and second, an ‘aged’, surface soil that was weathered and non-phytotoxic. Plant germination and growth are strongly inhibited by the presence of volatile, water-soluble low molecular-weight hydrocarbons (<3 rings) such as benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX), styrene, indene, naphthalene and other possibly toxic substances. On the other hand, high molecular weight PAH (3–5 rings) did not show any phytotoxicity under the conditions studied. These findings suggest that once low molecular weight aromatic hydrocarbons are removed, e.g. by volatilization, biodegradation, weathering, tillage and fertilising, plants should be able to grow.     

太湖宜溧河水系沉积物中多环芳烃来源解析

利用索氏提取技术和GC／MS测定，分析了太湖定溧河水系中13个样点沉积物中的多环芳烃（PAHs)，并利用芳香类不可分辨鼓包峰的检出、多环芳烃组分协相关因子检验及PAHs特征化合物指数，分析了太湖流域宜溧河水系中各地区的PAHs污染来源差异，并结合定溧河所在地区工业布局和环境特征得到了验证。溧阳附近PAHs主要来自于油类污染和染料工业的影响；宜兴市附近PAHs来源与溧阳不同，主要与现代煤烟型污染有关。从水第的干支流对比中发现，主干河道中沉积物PAHs污染来源比支流复杂的多，存在多种污染源交叉作用的情况。     

Study on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons（PAHs） contents and sources in the surface so~l or l-lmznou City, South China, based on multivariate statistics analysis

Studies of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface soil were conducted in Huizhou City, which is located in the Pearl River Delta, South China. Sixteen PAHs in 42 soil samples were detected. The results showed that 4 components of PAHs were detectable in all soil samples, and other 12 components were also detectable to some extent. The total PAHs contents range from 35.40 to 534.5 μg/kg with the mean value of 123.09 μg/kg. Soil in Huizhou was slightly polluted by PAHs according to Maliszewska-Kordybach’s study. It can be confirmed that the increase of PAHs contents in the surface soil of Huizhou City is closely connected to human activities. Multivariate analysis was also made in this study. Principal component analysis was used to constrain their origins, and 3 principal components (PCs) were extracted. The results showed that coal combustion and oil spilling made the major contributions to PAHs. Cluster analysis was made and 16 priority PAHs were classified as 4 sorts, and the result revealed the differences in environmental behavior, chemical properties and sources of PAHs.     

Levels and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in selected irrigated urban agricultural soils in Accra, Ghana

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic pollutants in urban environments including urban soils. Elevated concentrations of PAHs in urban soils are caused by incomplete combustion of petroleum and coal. This study assesses 16 individual PAH compounds in a total of 112 surficial soil samples. The objective was to assess and compare the levels of contamination as well as examine the main sources of PAHs in four urban agricultural soils using molecular ratios of some specific hydrocarbons. The study showed that PAH levels in soil ranged from 1.23 ng/kg in soil collected from Dzorwulu to 2.95 ng/kg in soil collected from Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) vegetable irrigation site. Of the total PAHs, the more water soluble PAHs (2–4 rings), which tend to be concentrated in the vapour phase were found to dominate the soils. The percentage dominance were Dzorwulu (52.8 %), Marine Drive (62.5 %), CSIR (53.2 %) and GBC (49.2 %). However, there were significant levels of the more carcinogenic PAHs (5–6 rings) present with percentages as 47.1, 37.5 46.8 and 50.8 % for Dzorwulu, Marine Drive, CSIR and GBC vegetable irrigation sites, respectively, and therefore, may impact negatively on public health. Based on the classification by the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Pulawy, Poland, urban soils in Accra could be classified as contaminated to different levels. Molecular ratios of Flu/pyr and PA/Ant were calculated to determine the main sources of PAHs. Results showed that PAHs could originate mainly from incomplete combustion of petroleum products, especially from atmospheric fallout from automobile exhausts. The study further showed that B(a)P concentration of 0.05 ng/kg in soil from GBC urban vegetable irrigation site requires immediate clean-up exercise and monitoring to mitigate human health impact.     

The effect of long-term soil irrigation by wastewater on organic matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals evolution: case study of Zaouit Sousse (Tunisia)

Irrigation by treated wastewater (TWW) can pollute the soil by different organic and inorganic compounds. The pollution level can depend on the irrigation period, soil nature, and wastewater characteristics. Since 1989, the Zaouit Sousse area (central Tunisian) has been irrigated by treated wastewater. The irrigation period and the mineralogy of soil composition change from one locality to another in Zaouit Sousse area. In this work, we are interested in organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals (HMs) evolution. One control soil (S1) and four irrigated areas soil (S2, S3, S4, and S5) were chosen. The soil samples differ by the irrigation period and soil characteristics. Total PAHs content in control soil was 66.2 ng?g^?1 and in irrigated areas were between 46.23 and 129.51 ng?g^?1. The PAHs content in irrigated soil, except S5 which has been irrigated with wastewater for 20 years and contains the highest clay fraction percent, decreased with the irrigation period (from 0 to 20 years). The microbial degradation may decrease the PAHs concentrations in the soil thanks to bacterium brought by TWW and the important soil permeability. Concentration of heavy metals ranged from 24 to 1,320 μg?L^?1. The HMs (Cu, Cr, Zn, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Cd) contents decreased with the irrigation period (from 10 to 20 years). So, following the PAHs aerobic bio-degradation, this organic compound discharges their absorbed heavy metals which leached to deeper levels. The Cr, Cu, Al, Zn, and Cd mobility depend on the clay yield too. However, the PAHs and Pb mobility are also related to humic substance quantities. Cr and Cu have affinities both to clay and humic substance quantities.     

太原市区土壤中多环芳烃污染特征研究

采用1个样/km2的密度,1个分析组合样/25km2的方法,对太原市区土壤中多环芳烃进行了调查。结果表明,太原市区土壤中多环芳烃的平均含量为8.65μg/g;空间分布上北高南低,高值点主要位于工业区及交通要道地段;组成上以四环及四环以上的多环芳烃为主。通过与国内外城市土壤的对比可知,太原市土壤PAHs污染已相当严重,其来源主要是煤炭的燃烧。太原市工业布局、能耗类型和地理位置是造成土壤PAHs污染的主要原因。     

Accumulation and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils around oil sludge in Zhongyuan oil field, China

In this paper, the contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil samples around three different oily sludge plants in winter were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the pollution degree with PAHs in soil samples was determined. Soil samples were collected from the agricultural soil around three different oily sludge plants (the Third Wenming Plant, the Third Mazhai Plant, and the Fourth Wener Plant) along with the leeway in Zhongyuan oil field. The distances from collected sample sites to oily sludge plants are 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 m, respectively. The results show that the contents of PAHs in soil samples decrease dramatically with the increase of the distance from the oily sludge, and that the PAHs with 2–4 rings are major pollutants in the oily sludge and soil samples. The main factors, which influenced the distribution of PAHs are discussed. Based on Nemero Index P, the classification evaluation shows that the soils around the oily sludge are heavily polluted in winter. The health risk assessment and ecological risk assessment of the soils around the oily sludge in Zhongyuan oil field in winter are analyzed.     

Levels and distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in middle reach of Huaihe River,China: anthropogenic influences and ecological risks

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of aromatic hydrocarbons with high toxicity to human health. PAH emissions from industrial activities have become the primary sources of PAH contamination in Chinese watersheds. Here, we analyzed 10 individual priority PAHs in 120 water samples taken from middle reach of Huaihe River, China. The results show that the PAH levels in studied watershed are significantly lower as compared to other Chinese watersheds, approaching or slightly exceeding the PAH levels in watersheds from selected European and North American countries. We observe rather large variation in spatial and vertical PAH distributions, pointing to PAH inputs from local industrial emissions, and PAH cycle among atmosphere, water and sediment. Individual PAH ratios (i.e., phenanthrene/anthracene and fluorene/pyrene) and principal components analysis suggest a primarily pyrolytic PAH sources (combustion of coal and coke) in water column. Other accompanying PAH sources include emissions from steel industry and gasoline. Total toxic benzo[a]pyrene equivalent of PAHs in studied water column indicates that PAHs in watershed of middle reach of Huaihe River pose limited toxicity to the environment.