Influence of Land Use Types on Levels and Compositions of PAEs in Soils from the Area around Hongze Lake

Abstract

6 congeners of phthalate esters (PAEs) were analyzed in soils with various land use types from the area around Hongze Lake, the fourth largest freshwater lake in China. The total concentrations of 6 congeners (Σ6PAEs ) were 5.070-2.067, 0.723-2.050, 0.331-1.645, 0.002-0.173 mg kg-1 in surface soil from plastic film greenhouse (PG), conventional vegetable fields (CV), plastic film greenhouse-rice rotated fields (PR), and uncultured land (UL), respectively. DnBP and DEHP were dominant species in PAEs averagely accounted for 46.4% and 47.0% of the Σ6PAEs concentrations in all surface soils. And congener percent composition of PAEs in surface soils from uncultured land was considerably different from cultured soils. Vertical distribution of PAEs in soil profile was influenced by land use type, congener species, and the content of congener in surface soil, etc. However, the amounts of PAEs in surface soil accounted more than 58.5% of total amounts in soils. In addition, no significant relationship was observed between total organic C or pH and the concentrations of PAEs in surface soil. The contents of PAEs in soils from the area around Hongze Lake were related with land use types, especially with the use of plastic film. And the general contamination level in soil was comparable or lower than those present in other areas. According to our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the present status of PAEs in soils from the area around Hongze Lake