Distribution of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Environment at Niigata Area.

Abstract

Distribution patterns of 8 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), i.e. pyrene (Py), fluorantene (Fl), benzo [a] anthracene (B [a] A), benzo [k] fluorantene (B [k] F), benzo [b] fluorantene (B [b] F), benzo [a] pyrene (B [a] P), benzo [ghi] perylene (B [ghi] P) and perylene (Per), in environmental samples from the Niigata area were examined. The total concentrations of 8 PAHs in sediments from the mouth area of rivers, airborne dusts, street dusts and surface soils ranged from <1.6 to 16600, 4700-263000, 210-1770 and 46-170 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of B [a] P in the street dusts and soils, 12-138 and 4.8-15 ng/g dry weight, respectively, were highly correlated (r>0.9) to those of other 7 PAHs. The concentration of B [a] P in the airborne dusts, 590-35000 ng/g dry weight, was highly correlated to those of other 5 PAHs except for Py and Fl which were collected at lower efficiencies by the collection materials. The PAHs in the airborn dusts, the street dusts and the soils were derived from artificial sources, especially from automobile. The concentration of B [a] P in the river sediments, 0.1-937 ng/g dry weight, was highly correlated to those of other 6 PAHs except for Per ; this showed a simillar distribution of PAHs in another rivers reported previously. A part of Per in the sediment seems to be derived from natural sources.