Abstract
Due to the dynamic development of civilization and the increasing demand for energy, pollution by harmful chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds, is a serious threat to forest soils. The aim of the study was to determine the role of texture in the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace elements in forest soils. The areas with different texture ranging from sand through sandy loam to silt loam were selected for the study. The study was carried out in the Chrzanów Forest District in southern Poland (50° 7′ 18 N; 19° 31′ 29 E), which in one of the most intensive industrial emission zones in Europe. The soil samples for properties determination were collected from locations distributed on a regular grid 100 × 100 m (20 points). The samples were collected from the humus horizon (0–10 cm) after removing organic horizon. Basic chemical properties, heavy metal content, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content and magnetic susceptibility values were determined in soil samples. Additionally, enzymatic activity and microbiological biomass was determined in the samples. Our study confirmed the importance of texture in PAHs distribution. A strong correlation between PAHs content and silt content in the soils studied was noted. The regression tree analysis confirmed the importance of the silt content, followed by soil organic carbon in PAHs distribution. Organic carbon content and nitrogen content played a predominant role in controlling the microbial activity. In our study, we did not note a relationship between enzymatic activity, microbiological soil biomass and the amount of PAHs. This may be due to the effective sorption and immobilization of PAHs by particles of fine fractions, especially silt. Obtained results confirmed the usefulness of magnetic susceptibility in the assessment of heavy metals contamination of forest soils. We noted high correlation between magnetic susceptibility value and heavy metals content. Moreover, the relationship between magnetic susceptibility and soil texture of the topsoil was also observed.
Highlights
Due to the dynamic development of civilization and the increasing demand for energy, pollution by harmful chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds, is a serious threat to forest soils
Extensive studies have been done with regard to the relationship of PAHs with total organic carbon (TOC) and elemental carbon (EC) in different environmental m atrices[12]
Few of the studies show the state of contamination with heavy metals and PAHs in forest soils in connection with the magnetic susceptibility parameters[33]
Summary
Due to the dynamic development of civilization and the increasing demand for energy, pollution by harmful chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds, is a serious threat to forest soils. The aim of the study was to determine the role of texture in the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace elements in forest soils. Heavy metal content, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content and magnetic susceptibility values were determined in soil samples. Obtained results confirmed the usefulness of magnetic susceptibility in the assessment of heavy metals contamination of forest soils. We noted high correlation between magnetic susceptibility value and heavy metals content. Soil magnetic susceptibility (MS) is an important parameter in pollution studies owing to its relationship with atmospheric deposition[22]. This works well due to the concomitance of technogenic magnetic particles (TMPs) with heavy metals[23]. Few of the studies show the state of contamination with heavy metals and PAHs in forest soils in connection with the magnetic susceptibility parameters[33]
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