Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content in different forest humus types. The investigation was carried out in Chrzanów Forest District in southern Poland. Twenty research plots with different humus types (mor and mull) were selected. The samples for analysis were taken after litter horizons removing from a depth of 0–10 cm (from the Of- and Oh-horizon total or A-horizon). pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen content, base cations, acidity, and heavy metal content were determined. In the natural moisture state, the activity of dehydrogenase was determined. The study included the determination of PAH content. The conducted research confirms strong contamination of study soil by PAHs and heavy metals. Our experiment provided evidence that different forest humus types accumulate different PAH amounts. The highest content of PAHs and heavy metals was recorded in mor humus type. The content of PAHs in forest humus horizon depends on the content and quality of soil organic matter. Weaker degradation of hydrocarbons is associated with lower biological activity of soils. The mull humus type showed lower content of PAHs and at the same time the highest biological activity confirmed by high dehydrogenase activity.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical substances with carcinogenic and mutagenic potential (Srogi 2007)
Soils appear to act as a sink for PAHs, due to the high affinity of those compounds to soil organic matter (SOM) (Sweetman et al 2005)
Our experiment provided evidence that the quantity and quality of soil organic matter plays an important role in controlling PAH amounts
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical substances with carcinogenic and mutagenic potential (Srogi 2007). PAHs originate mainly from combustion processes (industry, heating) as well as from mobile sources (vehicular emissions) (Krauss et al 2005, Shen et al, 2013). PAHs in the soil are characterized by low mobility and high durability (MaliszewskaKordybach et al 2008). The content and composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soils are the result of processes occurring in them. The course of these processes depends on the properties of soils (temperature, pH, soil organic matter content) (Aichner et al 2015). Soils appear to act as a sink for PAHs, due to the high affinity of those compounds to soil organic matter (SOM) (Sweetman et al 2005)
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