Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants that are released by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials. The top soils of rice paddies were collected from Gyeonggi-do (18 sites), Ulsan (20 sites), and Pohang (19 sites) in Korea to assess the spatial distribution and potential sources of PAHs. The total concentrations of 15 PAHs in the soils were 19.53–672.93, 125.01–3106.27, and 51.94–8106.21 mg/kg in Gyeonggi province, Ulsan, and Pohang, respectively. The concentration of 7 key carcinogenic PAHs were followed the order: Pohang (38.54–4826.63 ng/g) > Ulsan (28.54–1561.39 ng/g) > Gyeonggi province (19.53–206.51 ng/g). Three-ring PAHs were predominant in the soils from Gyeonggi-do while 3–5 ring compounds were abundant in the agricultural soils from the two industrial regions (Ulsan and Pohang). The PAH isomeric diagnostic ratios indicated that PAH contamination in the two cities mainly originated from pyrogenic sources. The principal component analysis indicated that pyrogenic coal burning and residential biomass combustion were major contributors to the soil contamination in the two cities. The transportation of PAHs through the air from industrial complexes and high volume of traffic may influence the PAHs distribution in the soils of the two cities in Korea.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are abundant environmental pollutants produced by various human activities including the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials [1]
This study aimed to investigate the concentrations and spatial distributions 16 PAHs in rice paddy soils collected from Gyeonggi province (18 sites) and two industrial areas, Ulsan (20 sites) and Pohang (19 sites) in South Korea
Concentrations and spatial distribution of PAHs in rice paddy soils The concentrations of US EPA priority PAHs (15 PAHs) in rice paddy soils in Gyeonggi province and two industrial areas (Ulsan and Pohang) in Gyeongsang province were determined (Additional file 3: Fig. S1)
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are abundant environmental pollutants produced by various human activities including the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials [1]. As a major reservoir of pollutants, the soil system is an important indicator of long-term environmental problems. Because of their persistency and hydrophobicity, PAHs are prone to enrichment in the soil matrix long after being adsorbed by the soil and sediment organic matter [7, 8]. PAHs in soils can be transferred into agricultural products, further threatening human health [9, 10]. Studies regarding agricultural soil PAH contamination must be performed to decrease the risk of human exposure and environmental contamination
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