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. 2017 Oct 9;14(10):1198.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph14101198.

Distributions and Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Soils around a Chemical Plant in Shanxi, China

Haihua Jiao  1   2 , Qi Wang  3 , Nana Zhao  4 , Bo Jin  5 , Xuliang Zhuang  6   7 , Zhihui Bai  8   9
Affiliations

Distributions and Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Soils around a Chemical Plant in Shanxi, China

Haihua Jiao et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Yearly the Shanxi coal chemical industry extracts many coal resources, producing at the same time many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are emitted as by-products of coal incomplete combustion. Methods: Sixty-six soil samples collected from 0 to 100 cm vertical sections of three different agricultural (AS), roadside (RS) and park (PS) functional soils around a chemical plant in Shanxi, China were analyzed for the presence of the 16 priority control PAHs. Results: The total concentrations (∑16PAHs) varied in a range of 35.4-116 mg/kg, 5.93-66.5 mg/kg and 3.87-76.0 mg/kg for the RS, PS and AS surface soil, respectively, and 5-ring PAHs were found to be dominant (44.4-49.0%), followed by 4-ring PAHs (15.9-24.5%). Moreover, the average value of ∑16PAHs decreased with the depth, 7.87 mg/kg (0-25 cm), 4.29 mg/kg (25-50 cm), 3.00 mg/kg (50-75 cm), 2.64 mg/kg (75-100 cm) respectively, in PS and AS soil vertical sections. Conclusions: The PAH levels in the studied soils were the serious contamination level (over 1.00 mg/kg) according to the Soils Quality Guidelines. The carcinogenic PAHs (ΣBPAHsBapeq) were approximately 14.8 times higher than the standard guideline level (0.60 mg/kg) and 90.3% of PAHs were produced by coal/wood/grass combustion processes.

Keywords: chemical plant; organic pollutants; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); soil contamination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A map showing the sampling area and sites.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PAHs composition distribution in surface soils: (a) roadsides, (b) agriculture areas, (c) park green spaces, and (d) overall PAHcomponent distribution in all investigated samples. Notes: 2-ring (Nap); 3-ring (Ace, Acel, Flu, Phe, Ant); 4-ring (Fla, Pyr, Baa, Chr); 5-ring (Bbf, Bkf, Bap, Daa); 6-ring (Ind, Bghip).
Figure 2
Figure 2
PAHs composition distribution in surface soils: (a) roadsides, (b) agriculture areas, (c) park green spaces, and (d) overall PAHcomponent distribution in all investigated samples. Notes: 2-ring (Nap); 3-ring (Ace, Acel, Flu, Phe, Ant); 4-ring (Fla, Pyr, Baa, Chr); 5-ring (Bbf, Bkf, Bap, Daa); 6-ring (Ind, Bghip).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Vertical distribution profile of the total PAHs (∑16PAHs), total carcinogenic PAHs (∑BPAHs) and Bap in the soil profiles of samples around the chemical plant area.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Concentration distributions in the vertical sections of (a) individual PAHs and (b) individual PAHs grouped by ring numbers in the soil profiles around the chemical plant area. Note: 2-ring: Nap; 3-ring: Ace, Acel, Flu, Phe, Ant; 4-ring: Fla, Pyr, Baa, Chr; 5-ring: Bbf, Bkf, Bap, Daa; 6-ring: Ind, Bghip.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Diagnostic ratio charts for (a) HMW/LMW and Fla/Pyr, (b) Baa/(Baa + Chr) and Phe/Ant, (c) Fla/(Fla + Pyr) and Ant/(Phe + Ant), and (d) Bap/(Bap + Chr) and Ind/(Ind + Bghip) in the sample soils around the chemical plant.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Diagnostic ratio charts for (a) HMW/LMW and Fla/Pyr, (b) Baa/(Baa + Chr) and Phe/Ant, (c) Fla/(Fla + Pyr) and Ant/(Phe + Ant), and (d) Bap/(Bap + Chr) and Ind/(Ind + Bghip) in the sample soils around the chemical plant.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Principal Component Analysis loading plot for (a) 16 individual PAHs and (b) different sample sites.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Principal Component Analysis loading plot for (a) 16 individual PAHs and (b) different sample sites.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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