Abstract

Samples of surface soil from urban areas of Japan were analysed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Concentrations of benzo[ a]pyrene were in the range 12–225 μg/kg. Profiles of polynuclear aromatic materials were obtained by glass capillary gas chromatography. The overall distribution of PAHs is similar to the distribution of PAHs in air particulate matter and combustion sources. Benzanthrone is found at concentrations ranging from 10 to 160 μg/kg. The presence of benzanthrone and other polynuclear aromatic ketones also indicates that polynuclear aromatic materials in surface soil have originated from combustion sources. A comparison with air particulate matter showed that the concentrations of PAHs in air particulate matter are about 100-fold higher than in surface soil. Perylene seems to be more resistant to degradation in the soil environment than in air particulate matter. Subsurface layers of soil contained PAHs at concentrations below 2 μg/kg, which was the detection limit.

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