Content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils exposed to traffic pollution

Abstract

The aim of the research was to determine the impact of traffic pollution on the content of 11 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils: naphtalene, acenaphtene, acenaphtylene, fluorene, phenantrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene as well as benzo[a]pyrene. The research material consisted of soil samples collected from 13 points located along regional road No. 957 passing through Zawoja (southern Poland, Malopolska region). In each point the soil samples were collected from sites located 5 and 200 m from the road edge. The PAHs content was determined using gas chromatography with mass detection, after solid phase extraction. Mean contents of individual PAHs in samples collected closer to the roadway were higher than mean contents in samples collected farther. Differences in the content of PAHs between samples collected at a distance of 5 m and 200 m from the edge of the roadway were increasing along with the increase of number of rings in the PAHs, i.e. soils located at a distance of 5 m from the edge of the roadway contained 9% more naphtalene, 37-294% more 3-ring compounds, 260-333% more 4-ring compounds, and 324% more benzo[a]pyrene.