Residue Analysis of Some PAHs in Some Algerian Soil: A Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are among the most persistent pollutants in various environmental matrices including soil. Because of their considerable toxicity even at low concentrations, it is essential to detect them at such very low levels (about ng/Kg) and to quantify them with precision and reliability. The objective of the present work is to determine residues of some PAHs in samples of superficial soil collected from a number of sites including the vicinity of an industrial park of a cement factory, rural soil, surrounding this industrial park, cereal grown soil close to the industrial park and also from urban ground in the north west of Algeria. A high resolution gas liquid chromatorgraph, coupled with high resolution mass spectroscopy (HRGC / HRMS) was used to measure PAH residues and their distribution in the soil. Results show that all investigated soil samples are highly contaminated with PAH. The concentration of the PAHs varies between 24, 62704.104 and 1072, 45064. 104 ng/kg. Residues of the potentially carcinogenic PAH benzo [a] pyrene, were also detected in some of the soil samples. Residues detected in the present study vary between 2,189.103 ng/kg and 506, 4848.103 whereas the value of Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) is approximately 2.103 ng/Kg. The present results indicated that soil samples examined in the present study are highly contaminated with PAHs compounds, posing potential toxicological risk, considering their carcinogenic and/or mutagenic properties.