Abstract
Abstract. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants produced by anthropogenic activities that contaminate all environmental spheres, including soils. This study focused on PAHs measured in 2154 soils in France, covering the entire territory based on a regular sampling grid. The quantified concentrations in the Σ15 PAHs ranged from 5.1 to 31 200 µg kg−1, with a median value of 32.6 µg kg−1, and PAHs were detected in 70 % of the soil samples. The map of Σ15 PAH concentrations revealed strong spatial variations in soil contamination throughout France, with larger concentrations in soils of industrial regions and near major cities. PAH molecular diagnostic ratios support the historical origin of PAHs in the northern part of France being linked to the significant emissions of PAHs in Europe during the industrial period of 1850–1950, in particular with the contribution of coal and/or biomass combustion and iron–steel production. A health risk assessment conducted for the residential population resulted in a median value of 1.07 × 10−8 in total lifetime cancer risk, with only 20 sites above the limit of 10−6 and one above the limit of 10−5 adopted by the French government. These results reveal the need to conduct large-scale studies on soil contamination to determine the fate of PAHs and evaluate the risks induced by soil pollution at a country-level scale.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been targeted by worldwide environmental and public health agencies since 1970 due to their mutagenicity and carcinogenicity (Grimmer, 1985)
The objectives of the current study are, (i) to evaluate the contamination of soils by PAHs in France in comparison with international soil monitoring studies, (ii) to produce a high-resolution map of the spatial distribution of 15PAHs in French soils, (iii) to determine the main origins of PAHs in soils based on PAH molecular ratios, and (iv) to evaluate the potential health risks for the residential population associated with PAHs in French soils in order to have a first look at the risks induced by the background contamination of soils
Extreme values were not frequent, as 90 % of the PAH concentrations measured were under 500 μg kg−1 in the 15 PAHs, and only 4 % of the concentrations were above 1000 μg kg−1 in the 15 PAHs
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been targeted by worldwide environmental and public health agencies since 1970 due to their mutagenicity and carcinogenicity (Grimmer, 1985). These substances, which are emitted during the incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of organic matter, are mainly associated with anthropogenic activities, especially heavy industries (e.g. steel and coal), residential heating, and road traffic (Pacyna et al, 2003). Soil erosion has been identified as the predominant source of PAHs at the scale of the Seine river basin (78 650 km2), one of the largest catchments in France (Flipo et al, 2020)
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