Levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils Nearby Metallurgical Plant Kremikovtsy

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. They are highly persistent and tend to accumulate in many environmental compartments including soils. But the concentration and distribution of POPs in the environment have not been well studied in Bulgaria in spite of their negative effect on the environment and human health. In this study, soil samples from a metallurgical plant Kremikovtsy were analyzed for indicator PCBs and PAHs. The sums of concentrations of indicator PCBs were in the range 5.6–18.2 μg kg−1. High chlorinated indicator PCBs — 138, 153 and 180 were the most abundant in the soil samples. The ranges of PAHs concentrations in the soil samples were 352–437 μg kg−1. PCBs and PAHs concentrations found in this study are below the maximum admissible concentrations in soils according to the Bulgarian Legislation.