Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in urban soils representing different land use categories in Shanghai

An extensive soil survey was carried out in Shanghai to investigate the spatial distribution and possible sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban soils. Soil samples were collected from highways, iron-smelting plants, steel-smelting plants, shipbuilding yards, coking plants, power plants, chemical plants, urban parks, university campuses and residential areas and were analyzed for 16 PAHs by gas chromatography with mass detection. High PAH concentrations were found in all locations investigated, with mean values of soil total PAH concentrations in the range 3,279–38,868 μg/kg DM, and the PAH concentrations were significantly influenced by soil organic matter content. Soil PAH profiles in all districts were dominated by PAHs with 4–6 rings. Principal components analysis and diagnostic ratios of PAHs indicate that they were mainly derived from coal combustion and petroleum but in soils from highways the PAHs were derived largely from vehicle exhaust emissions. The high concentrations of PAHs found indicate that many urban soils in Shanghai represent a potential hazard to public health.     

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.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particle-size fractions of urban topsoils

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons’ (PAHs) concentrations in bulk samples are commonly used to assess contamination but PAHs are unevenly distributed among particle-size fractions. Seventeen urban surface soil samples from the city of Xuzhou, China, were collected and then fractionated into five size fractions (2,000–300, 300–150, 150–75, 75–28, and <28 μm). The concentrations of 12 US EPA PAHs were measured using gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry in various fractions, and the bulk soil samples and distribution patterns of PAHs in different particle-size fractions were investigated. The mean concentration of total PAHs in bulk soil samples was 1,879 ng/g. The median concentrations for all individual PAH were higher for the 75–2,000 μm fraction than for the <75 μm fraction. The distribution factors for various PAHs in <28 μm soil fraction were closely correlated (r = ?0.661, p < 0.019) to bulk soil fugacity capacity. The values of PAH isomer indicated that traffic emissions might be the major origin of PAHs in Xuzhou surface soils. Spearman correlation analysis was performed and the result suggested that soil organic carbon might be a factor controlling the concentrations of PAHs in soils.     

Pollution assessment and source apportionment of arsenic,lead and copper in selected soils of Khuzestan Province,southwestern Iran

Due to the intensified industrial activities and excessive application of agrochemicals and organic waste materials over the last few decades, there is a great concern about the accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils from north of Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran. Therefore, a comparative study with a total number of 300 composite soil samples (0–10 cm) from industrial, urban, agricultural, forest, and rangelands; and 26 samples from the major types of soils parent materials was conducted to examine sources, pollution status, and the effects of soil properties, land use types, and the local lithology on the total concentrations of As, Pb, and Cu (measured using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) equipped with graphite furnace) in the soils studied. The mean values of Pb and Cu were 12.2?±?4.6 and 13.5?±?7.6 mg kg^?1, respectively, slightly higher than the background values of the study area, but lower than the guideline values of Iranian Environmental Quality Standard for Soils. However, the mean values of As (1.72?±?1.15 mg kg^?1) were lower than both background values and the guideline values of Iranian Environmental Quality Standard for soils. The greatest values of the geo-accumulation index (I _geo), enrichment factor (EF), and the concentrations of Pb, Cu, and As were arranged as industrial > urban > agriculture > rangelands = forest land uses. The results also indicated that concentrations of all PTEs were greater in soils as compared to those in parent materials. Using principal component analysis (PCA), the origin of Cu and Pb with moderate to high enrichments was attributed to the inputs from both natural and anthropogenic sources. However, As was found to be mainly influenced by lithogenic origin.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water and soil in the vicinity of fuel-oil spillage from a tank farm distribution facility, Esuk Utan, Calabar Municipality, Nigeria

The concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (??PAHs) and 16 individual PAH compounds in 6 surface water and 44 soil samples collected from the vicinity of spilled fuel from a pipeline which carries fuel from a jetty to the tank farm were analyzed. The ??PAHs concentrations in surface water ranged from 0.37 to 99.30?mg/l with a mean concentration of 57.83?mg/l. The ??PAHs concentrations in water are of several orders of magnitude higher than in unpolluted water and some national and international standards including in some surface water in other parts of the world. This suggests that the surface water of the area were heavily polluted by anthropogenic PAHs possibly from the spills. The total PAH concentrations in soil ranged from 16.06 to 25,547.75???g/kg with a mean concentration of 2,906.36???g/kg. ??PAH concentrations of the seven carcinogenic PAH compounds in soil varied between 0.02 and 97,954???g/kg. In terms of composition of patterns in surface water and soil, the PAHs were dominated by four and three rings. The distribution pattern showed marked predominance by low molecular weight compounds. In comparison with ??PAHs concentrations in other part of the world, the total PAH concentrations of this area were higher than those reported for some urban soils in some regions of the world. The ratios of Phe/Ant, Flu/Pyr, Flu/(Flu?+?Pyr), and BaA/(BaA?+?Chyr) in both water and soil indicated various sources of PAH in the area. These sources include fuel spills, burning of motor tyres and vegetation, vehicle repairs and washing, motor exhaust and fire wood burning from cooking.     

Mineralogical and geochemical patterns of urban surface soils, the example of Pforzheim, Germany

This study presents a combined geochemical and mineralogical survey of urban surface soils. Many studies on urban soils are restricted to purely chemical surveys in order to investigate soil pollution caused by anthropogenic activities such as traffic, heating, industrial processing, waste disposal and many more. In environmental studies, chemical elements are often distinguished as lithogenic and anthropogenic elements. As a novel contribution to those studies, the authors combined the analysis of a broad set of chemical elements with the analysis of the main mineralogical phases. The semi-quantification of mineralogical phases supported the assignment of groups of chemical elements to lithogenic or anthropogenic origin. Minerals are important sinks for toxic elements. Thus, knowledge about their distribution in soils is crucial for the assessment of the environmental hazards due to pollution of urban soils. In Pforzheim, surface soils (0–5 cm depth) from various land use types (forest, agriculture, urban green space, settlement areas of various site densities) overlying different geological units (clastic and chemical sediments) were investigated. Urban surface soils of Pforzheim reflect to a considerable degree the mineral and chemical composition of parent rocks. Irrespective of the parent rocks, elevated concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Sn, Ag) were found in soils throughout the whole inner urban settlement area of Pforzheim indicating pollution. These pollutants will tend to accumulate in inner urban surface soils according to the available adsorption capacity, which is normally higher in soils overlying limestone than in soils overlying sandstone. However, inner urban surface soils overlying sandstone show elevated concentrations of carbonates, phyllo-silicates and Fe and elevated pH values compared with forest soils overlying sandstone. Thus, in comparison to forest soils overlying sandstones, inner urban soils overlying sandstone affected by pollution concurrently possess elevated concentrations of mineral phases typically providing relatively high adsorption capacities for heavy metals.     

Heavy metal concentrations in soils and plants in the vicinity of Arufu lead-zinc mine,Middle Benue Trough,Nigeria

This study focused on the influence of base metal mining on heavy metal levels in soils and plants in the vicinity of Arufu lead-zinc mine, Nigeria. Soil samples (0-15 cm depth) and plant samples were collected from cul-tivated farmlands in and around the mine, the unmineralized site and a nearby forest (the control site). The samples were analyzed for heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Cd) by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The physical properties of soils (pH and LOI) were also measured. Results showed that soils from cultivated farm-lands have neutral pH values (6.5-7.5), and low organic matter contents (10%). Levels of Zn, Pb and Cd in culti-vated soils were higher than the concentrations obtained from the control site. These heavy metals are most probably sourced from mining and agricultural activities in the study area. Heavy metal concentrations measured in plant parts decreased in the order of rice leavescassava tuberspeelings. In the same plant species, metal levels decreased in the order of ZnFeMnCuPbCrCd. Most heavy metals were found in plant parts at average concentrations normally observed in plants grown in uncontaminated soil, however, elevated concentrations of Pb and Cd were found in a few cassava samples close to the mine dump. A stepwise linear regression analysis identified soil metal contents, pH and LOI as some of the factors influencing soil-plant metal uptake.     

湖州市不同土地利用类型土壤中多环芳烃的分布及来源

建立了原子发射光谱法测定独居石矿物中钇组稀土元素的分析方法。在260.00~360.00 nm波段内,选择不受干扰的分析谱线,用炭粉作缓冲剂,钪作内标元素,样品不需要化学处理,不需分离,可直接采用原子发射光谱法测定钇组稀土元素。方法相对标准偏差(RSD,n=12)为1.6%~6.2%,相对误差RE<±12.0%,方法简单、快速、可行。     

水体悬浮颗粒物的扫描电镜与X射线能谱显微分析

通过对湖州地区74个土壤样品多环芳烃含量的测定,分析了湖州市不同土地利用类型土壤中多环芳烃(PAHs)的含量特征及污染水平。结果表明,湖州地区PAHs各组分的含量均有检出,各种土地利用类型表层土壤均受到一定程度的PAHs污染,但均小于荷兰土壤修复标准;湖州市区耕地中PAHs的含量最高;从PAHs低环/高环比值小于1以及芘/苯并(a)芘比值小于2,反映了湖州地区土壤中PAHs主要是由燃煤和生活污染产生的。     

Controlling factors and environmental implications of mercury contamination in urban and agricultural soils under a long-term influence of a chlor-alkali plant in the North–West Portugal

This study aims at assessing the extent of total mercury (Hg) contamination in urban and agricultural soils under long-term influence of a chlor-alkali plant, located at about 1 km away from a town centre. Moreover, it aims at identifying the main factors controlling Hg contents’ distribution and associated potential hazards to environment and human health. The median value of total Hg for soil surface layer (0–10 cm) was 0.20 mg/kg (data ranging from 0.050 to 4.5 mg/kg) and for subsurface layer (10–20 cm) 0.18 mg/kg (data ranging from 0.046 to 3.0 mg/kg). The agricultural area showed higher Hg concentrations (ranging from 0.86 to 4.5 mg/kg) than urban area (ranging from 0.05 to 0.61 mg/kg), with some results exceeding target values set by the Dutch guidelines. Mercury concentrations observed in the studied area are more likely to be associated with the influence of the chlor-alkali plant and with the use of historically contaminated sludges and water from a nearby lagoon in agriculture, than to the impacts of urban development. The statistical correlations between Hg concentrations and soil properties suggest that anthropogenic metal sources should influence the spatial distribution more than the geological properties. Although the Hg emissions were drastically reduced 10 years ago, the area under influence of the chlor-alkali plant is still facing potential health and environmental threats arising from soil contamination.     

Distribution and origin of lead in stream sediments from small agricultural catchments draining Miocene molassic deposits (SW France)

Total Pb concentrations and isotopic composition were determined in stream-bed sediments and bedrock from 29 small agricultural or forested catchments in the Gascogne area (SW France). The contribution of Pb from various natural and anthropogenic sources was investigated in this rural area which is very weakly impacted by industrial or urban emissions. Environmental parameters in catchments (importance of forest cover, organic matter and oxide content in sediments) were considered. A combination of geochemical (enrichment calculation, sequential extraction) and isotopic investigations was performed to constrain the origin of Pb and the distribution of anthropogenic Pb in sediments. Most of the sediments have low total Pb content compared to other agricultural regions more impacted by industrial or urban emissions. The results indicated a moderate but significant Pb enrichment, particularly for catchments draining forested areas. This enrichment was positively related to organic C content in sediment and catchment forest cover, whereas in entirely cultivated catchments it was related to Fe-oxide content.     

Levels and distribution of total nitrogen and total phosphorous in urban soils of Beijing, China

Urban soil nitrogen and phosphorus have significant implications for the soil and water quality in urban areas. The concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) of soil samples collected from six types of land use, which included residential area (RA), business area (BA), classical garden (CG), culture and education area (CEA), public green space (PGS) and roadside area (RSA) of Beijing urban area, were investigated. Results showed that the geometric mean of TP (857 mg/kg) in urban soils was slightly higher than that (745 mg/kg) in rural soils of Beijing. The concentration of soil TP was higher in the center of the city, and showed an increasing trend with the age of the urban area. The TP concentrations in the six types of land use followed the sequence of CG > BA > RSA > RA > CEA > PGS, which were affected by the use and disposal of phosphorus-containing materials in each type of land use. However, the geometric mean of TN (753.8 mg/kg) in urban soils was much lower than that (1,933.3 mg/kg) in rural soils. TN level in urban soils of Beijing had no correlation with the city’s urbanization history, and was influenced by the coverage of natural vegetation and human activities in each type of land use. This study suggested that the city’s urbanization history and land use were the main factors affecting the distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus in urban soils.     

Soil geochemical signature of urbanization and industrialization – Chicago, Illinois, USA

The concentrations of 45 elements in ambient (not obviously disturbed) surface soils were determined for 57 sites distributed throughout the city of Chicago, Illinois in the upper Midwestern United States. These concentrations were compared to soils from 105 sites from a largely agricultural region within a 500-km radius surrounding the city and to soils collected from 90 sites across the state of Illinois. Although the bulk composition of the Chicago urban soils reflects largely natural sources, the soils are significantly enriched in many trace elements, apparently from anthropogenic sources. The median concentration of Pb in Chicago soils is 198 mg/kg, a 13-fold enrichment compared to regional concentrations. Zinc (median 235 mg/kg), Cu (59 mg/kg), and Ni (31 mg/kg) are also enriched from 2- to 4-fold in Chicago soils and all four elements show strong mutual correlations. These elevated concentrations are most likely related to vehicular and roadway sources and represent uneven distribution across the city as airborne material. Other airborne particulate material from a combination of fossil fuel combustion, waste incineration, and steel production may contribute to apparent elevated concentrations in Chicago soil of Fe (median 2.9%), Mo (5 mg/kg), V (82 mg/kg) and S (0.09%). Chicago soils are enriched from about 1.6- to 3-fold in these elements. Enrichments in P and Se may be caused by direct addition of phosphate fertilizer to parklands, lawns and gardens. The density of the sampling (1 site per 10 km²) is inadequate to define the distribution of the observed enrichments within the city or to predict soil compositions for most of the areas between sample sites, but does provide a statistically significant signature of the history of urban and industrial activity within the city in contrast to the surrounding agricultural lands.     

Black carbon in soils from different land use areas of Shanghai,China: Level,sources and relationship with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Black carbon (BC) in soils plays a key role of carrying hydrophobic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, little is known about the spatial distribution, sources of BC and its relationship with PAHs in urban soils. We studied BC, total organic carbon (TOC) and PAHs concurrently in 77 soils collected from downtown area, suburban and rural area and industrial area of Shanghai, China. BC was determined by both chemical oxidation (dichromate oxidation, BC_Cr) and chemo-thermal oxidation (CTO-375, BC_CTO). BC sources were identified qualitatively by BC/TOC concentration ratios and BC-cogenerated high molecular weight (HMW) PAH isomer ratios and quantitatively by principal component analysis followed by multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR). Results showed that BC_Cr concentration (4.65 g/kg on average) was significantly higher than BC_CTO (1.91 g/kg on average) in Shanghai soils. BC_Cr concentrations in industrial area were significantly higher than those in other two. Stronger correlation was found between PAHs and TOC, BC_Cr than that between PAHs and BC_CTO, which indicates the possibility of PAHs being carried by charcoal and other organic matters thus negating its exclusive dependence on soot. Charcoal was therefore suggested to be taken into account in studies of BC and its sorption of PAHs. BC/TOC ratios showed a mixed source of biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion. PCA scores of BC-cogenerated HMW PAHs isomer ratios in potential sources and soil samples clearly demonstrated that sources of BC in urban soils may fall into two categories: coal and biomass combustion, and traffic (oil combustion and tire wear). PCA-MLR of HMW PAHs concentrations in soil samples indicated that coal and oil combustion had the largest contribution to BC in urban soils while tire wear and biomass combustion were important in downtown and rural area, respectively, which indicated they were main sources of HMW PAHs and presumably of BC.     

大气干湿沉降: 地下河多环芳烃的重要来源——以广西清水泉地下河为例

为证实大气干湿沉降物是岩溶地下河中多环芳烃(PAHs)的来源,研究选择了某城市典型的岩溶地下河水源地作为研究地点,采用大气干湿采样器、聚氨酯泡沫(PUF)大气被动采样器分别采集大气及其干湿沉降物样品,同时采集地下河水样和分层采集流域土壤,利用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)测定了16种PAHs优先控制污染物。结果表明,地下河流域大气干湿沉降中PAHs的干湿沉降通量为147.26 ng·(m2·d)-1,流域PAHs沉降量为1943.8 g;大气中的PAHs浓度为45.33 ng·m-3;地下河水中PAHs浓度平均值为220.98 ng·L-1;土壤中PAHs浓度为38.72 ng·g-1;大气、降雨和土壤中PAHs组成以2~3环的萘、芴、菲、荧蒽、芘5种为主,地下河水中以芴、菲、荧蒽、芘、苯并[a]蒽、苯并[a]芘6种为主。利用地下河多介质中的16种PAHs成分谱、特征比值结合它们的物理化学性质进行PAHs的源解析,研究显示大气干湿沉降是岩溶地下河水中多环芳烃的主要污染源之一,这归因于岩溶地区防污性能的脆弱性。     

Natural radionuclides and trace elements in rice field soils in relation to fertilizer application: study of a chronic kidney disease area in Sri Lanka

The rising number of chronic kidney disease patients with no identifiable cause (CKD of uncertain aetiology), prevalent in some areas of the dry zone of Sri Lanka is suspected to be related to the environmental exposure to heavy metals. Agricultural soils are well recognized as being contaminated with potentially toxic metals from various forms of fertilizers and agro-chemicals, which could easily enter the human body through the food chain. The objective of this paper is to determine the content of heavy metals and activity concentration of background radionuclides such as K-40, Ra-226 and Th-232, in rice field soils. Rice farming is the most common agricultural practice in the affected region and possible heavy metal sources such as fertilizers are applied in abundance in the rice fields. Soils collected from a rice field in a non-CKD region was used for the comparison. In dry zone soils, Ca, K, Ba, Pb and Zr contents were higher and Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni and Zn contents were lower compared to that of soils from the wet zone non-CKD region. However, the activity concentration of soils was mostly the same in all samples, except for the K-40 contents of the soils, which were higher in the rice field soils compared to the undisturbed forest soils and also to the world averages. The mean U content was 3.6 mg/kg in the studied soils, although extremely high uranium contents were found in some fertilizer samples particularly in the triple superphosphates. Most uranium applied via fertilizer could contaminate the drinking water sources and even low uranium concentrations in drinking water may cause nephrotoxic effects.     

Compositional fractionation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the karst soils, South China

This study aims to explore the condensation and fractionation trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the karst soils. The tiankeng is a karst surface expression that can act as a focal point for introduction of contaminants to a karst aquifer, which may serve both as condenser for vapor phase POPs and as barrier/sink for particulate associated less volatile POPs. The fractionation of POPs in soils from the upper rim and floor of tiankeng is of interest in understanding the role of tiankeng in the long-distance transport of POPs. In the present study, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface soils from the upper rim and floor of Dashiwei tiankeng in Southern China were analyzed. The total PAH concentrations in soils were 23.40–190 ng g⁻¹, with phenanthrene being the most abundant. The distribution patterns of PAH compounds in the soil samples matched well with their properties. It indicated the heavy PAHs were susceptible to retention by the floor soils of tiankeng than light PAHs. A plot of Cfloor/Crim against PAH molecular weight gave a good positive relationship in the molecular weight range of 152–276. It is suggested that the floor soils can be focal points of more concentrated PAH and deserve attention. The concentrations of total PAHs in the floor soils (43.40–190 ng g⁻¹, mean 87.76 ng g⁻¹) were higher than those in the upper rim (23.40–88.94 ng g⁻¹, mean 57.74 ng g⁻¹). In addition, there was a shift in compound pattern with an increase in the proportion of light PAHs (2–3 rings), a decrease in heavy PAHs (5–6 rings) and a relatively stable content of 4-ring PAHs. A combination of particulate scavenging and cold condensation is proposed as the major mechanism for the compositional fractionation of PAHs in the soils from the upper rim and floor of tiankeng.     

广州地区蔬菜生产基地有机污染物含量状况及分布

为了解广州地区蔬菜基地有机污染物的分布情况,选取了6个代表性基地进行调查采样,测试分析了表层土壤、蔬菜及灌溉水中15种邻苯二甲酸酯(PAEs)化合物、16种多环芳烃(PAHs)化合物和19种有机氯农药(OCPs)化合物的质量分数及质量浓度.结果表明:在15种PAEs化合物的总质量分数(w(ΣPAEs))中,土壤样品为158.0~4 321.0 ng/g,蔬菜样品为1 134.0~48 576.0 ng/g;水样中15种PAEs化合物的总质量浓度(ρ(ΣPAEs))为632.0~14 271.0 ng/L;就单个化合物而言,以DiBP、DBP、DEHP三种污染物为主,其三项之和占所有PAEs质量分数的97.5%~99.1%;在16种PAHs化合物的总质量分数(w(ΣPAHs))中,土壤样品为28.48~1 121.96 ng/g,蔬菜样品为238.09~1 000.61 ng/g;水样中16种PAHs化合物的总质量浓度(ρ(ΣPAHs))为338.21~1 239.78 ng/L;在19种OCPs化合物的总质量分数(w(ΣOCPs))中,土壤为0.04~71.28 ng/g,蔬菜为1.08~9.18 ng/g.总体上看,各基地土壤中DBP质量分数均超标,多环芳烃类在灵山、花东、黄埔菜地土壤中存在轻微污染,有机氯农药均未出现污染.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Niger Delta soil: contamination sources and profiles

The distribution and sources of PAHs in soil as well as PAHs profiles have been investigated in areas with anthropogenic pollution in the Niger Delta (Nigeria) such as Warri and Ughelli. PAHs were identified in 21 soil samples (0–10cm upper layer) collected in May, 2003. The typical total PAHs level in Niger Delta soil ranged from 182 ± 112 - to - 433 ±256 íg/kg dw. PAH concentrations in soil samples from Warri Refinery, Tanker Loading point and Ugboko via Rapele oil field were quite high ( the mean ÓPAH concentrations were 433, 402 and 384 íg/kg dry weight respectively). The dominant PAHs in soil samples were pyrene, naphthalene and benzo[k]fluoranthene. The soil total PAHs (PAH_tot.) concentration, normalized to organic carbon content (OC), ranged from 11.4 to 47.2 mg PAH_tot. /kg OC; and showed that organic matter of the soil samples from Quality Control Centre, Ugelli West is highly contaminated with PAHs and had a value of 47.2 ± 31.2 mg PAH_tot./kg OC. Two and three ring aromatic hydrocarbons predominated in soil samples from Ughelli West, Tanker Loading point and Delta Steel Company, which is indicative of petrogenic origin.