Concentrations Of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons Research Articles

Pattern of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor air: Exploratory principal component analysis

Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to study polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) profiles in indoor air. Fifteen PAHs were measured in ten different homes in Columbus (Ohio) which had different indoor emission characteristics such as gas utilities, wood-burning fireplaces, and cigarette smokers. Different PAH concentration patterns emerged depending upon the emission sources present in the different homes. Of these, cigarette smoking appeared to have the greatest impact on the indoor PAH concentrations. The PCA allowed convenient displays of the multidimensional data set from which the PAH concentration characteristics could be elucidated. The interrelationship between the different PAHs was also studied by correlation analysis.

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in crops from long-term field experiments amended with sewage sludge

This study reports on the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content of crop plants grown at three different field experiments where controlled additions of sewage sludge were made a number of years ago. Archived samples of several crops have been analysed from sludge-amended and unsludged control plots for 15 PAH compounds. Root crops and above ground plant parts were available for several years following the last applications of sludge. Although the soil PAH burden increased substantially due to sewage sludge additions, and residues of these compounds have persisted in the soils for many years, increased PAH concentrations relative to the unsludged controls were not consistently detected in plant tissues. Plant samples were relatively enriched with low molecular weight compounds such as acenaphthene/fluorene nd phenanthrene. Various lines of evidence indicate that PAHs detected in above ground plant parts are chiefly derived from atmospheric inputs, while PAHs detected in root crops probably arise from adsorption to the root surface.

The distribution and origins of the hydrocarbon fraction of particulate material in the North Sea atmosphere

The results of a fifteen month survey programme of hydrocarbons in the aerosol fraction of the North Sea atmosphere are presented. 98 high volume filter samples were analysed for saturated and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) together with the uncharacterized complex material (UCM), using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the dominant source of hydrocarbons to the North Sea atmosphere is air which has recently passed over the UK. Concentrations in air from over continental Europe are generally higher but such air masses are relatively rare. Air whose recent history has been spent over the open sea shows the lowest hydrocarbon concentrations. Evidence of preferential loss of PAH over the sea is presented which has important consequences for flux calculations. Examination of carbon preference indices suggests that terrestrial sources dominate the aerosol with marine sources being relatively insignificant. Over the study period clear evidence was obtained of a large increase in PAH concentrations during the winter due to the increased combustion of fossil fuels during this period.

Evidence of aberration of the natural cytotoxic cell activity in Fundulus heteroclitus (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae) from the Elizabeth River, Virginia

There is a general agreement that exposure to high concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sediments is associated with high frequencies of neoplasms in feral fish species. Since PAH modulate the activity of murine and amphibian natural cytotoxic (killer) cells, a leukocyte subpopulation that is believed to play an important role in immunosurveillance, we wished to determine if fish exposed to PAH could have an altered natural cytotoxic cell (NCC) activity. In the present study, mummichog ( Fundulus heteroclitus L.) were collected from two sites in the Elizabeth River, VA that are heavily contaminated with PAH, and from a relatively unpolluted reference site in the York River, VA. The cytotoxic activity of anterior kidney and splenic leukocytes was tested against the tumor cell line K562. The leukocytes from Elizabeth River fish displayed a significant depression of the in vitro tumorilytic activity as compared with leukocytes from the York River fish. Analysis of leukocyte-tumor cell conjugates indicated that Elizabeth River fish leukocytes were unable to recognize and subsequently bind to the tumor target cells. This suggests an aberration in the early events of the cytotoxic mechanism. By keeping the fish in cleaner York River water for up to 28 weeks the suppressed NCC activity was reversed totally in one site, which is slightly contaminated, and partially in the other site, which is heavily polluted with creosote from an operating wood treatment plant. This indicates that the decreased NCC activity was related, at least in part, to exposure to the chemical pollutants in the Elizabeth River sediments.

Studies on the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content of carrots (Daucus carota)

A method was developed for analysing carrots ( Daucus carota) for 15 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Recovery of PAHs from carrot samples was high, generally in the range 80 – 100 %. Carrots appear to have highest ∑PAH concentrations in their peel, with a decreasing load moving into the root. ∑PAH concentrations are generally below 200 μg/kg (dry weight) with the low molecular weight PAHs being the most abundant. PAH content was found to differ with packaging, while boiling reduced the PAH content by ∼60%. In the UK the average annual consumption of PAHs associated with carrots is estimated to be ∼110 μg.

The long-term persistence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an agricultural soil amended with metal-contaminated sewage sludges

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) data are presented from a long-term field experiment in which soil plots were amended with single additions of sewage sludges over 20 years ago. Five sludges, each containing a different concentration of PAHs and enriched with different heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Ni or Zn), were applied to five soil plots in 1968. This increased soil PAH concentrations substantially, but by 1972 some plots had lost up to 60% of the PAHs applied. By 1989, losses had increased to about 90%. Individual PAHs have behaved differently with compound persistence a function of molecular weight. Half-lives for the compounds in soil increased from < 2 years for naphthalene to > 16 years for coronene. It is argued that biological degradation is the most important loss mechanism for PAHs in this soil. Overall, calculated half-lives are significantly longer than those previously reported under experimental conditions. The implications of this are discussed. Slower PAH degradation was observed in the plot amended with the Ni-rich sludge; by 1989, 35% of the applied PAHs was still detectable in the soil. This may be indicative of long-term heavy metal interference in microbial processes.

The persistence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sewage sludge amended agricultural soils

In 1968, five metal enriched sewage sludges containing different concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were applied to different plots on field soils at two experimental sites, Luddington and Lee Valley, in the UK. This resulted in substantial increases in the total PAH soil concentrations in all plots. Since application, losses have occurred, with the high molecular weight PAHs being more persistent. Calculated half-lives range from under 2 years for naphthalene to over 9 years for benzo[ ghi]perylene and coronene. The losses of PAH compounds in these field experiments can be related, in part, to their physico-chemical properties, notably the octanol: water partition coefficient.

Hydrocarbon distributions around a shallow water multiwell platform

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in nearshore coastal sediments offshore of Matagorda, TX, average 29 {plus minus} 28 (SD) ppb compared to 96 {plus minus} 112 ppb for the sediments in adjacent coastal estuaries and bays. PAHs were analyzed in bottom sediments collected in the vicinity of a multiwell platform in {approximately} 25 m of water, where six wells had been drilled between May 1982 and November 1985. The most elevated PAH concentrations were restricted to within 25 m of the platform discharge point. Mean PAH concentrations for two samplings at 10 and 25 m from the platform were 494 {plus minus} 251 and 757 {plus minus} 1,820 ppb, respectively. The contaminated platform sites ({le} 25 m distant) were dominated by two-ring aromatics while the estuarine/bay and noncontaminated coastal sites were dominated by four- and five-ring aromatic hydrocarbons. Phenanthrene/anthracene ratios suggest a petroleum source for the hydrocarbons at platform stations and pyrolytic sources for the bay/estuarine hydrocarbons.

Carcinogenic and genotoxic activity of extracts from contaminated sediments in Western Lake Ontario

In order to investigate the putative association between chemical contamination in western Lake Ontario and high prevalences of fish tumors, sediments from Hamilton Harbour and Oakville Creek in Lake Ontario and reference sites in non-polluted areas of Ontario, Canada were collected and extracted for organic contaminants. Sediment extracts from Hamilton Harbour had the highest concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine insecticides (ppb) and contained very high concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (ppm); although the levels of these compounds varied widely with sampling location in the harbor. A sediment extract from Hamilton Harbour was mutagenic in the Ames bacterial assay, both with and without microsomal activation. High levels of aromatic DNA adducts were induced in cultured mouse C3H1OT1/2 cells after in vitro exposure to Hamilton Harbour sediment extract. In two separate carcinogenicity experiments involving a sac fry microinjection assay with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Hamilton Harbour sediment extract induced hepatocellular carcinomas in fish. No hepatic neoplasms were observed in fish that had been treated with sediment extract from Oakville Creek, or with extract from a reference sediment. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the distribution of neoplasms in feral fish within western Lake Ontario.

The Distribution of Perkinsus marinus in Gulf Coast Oysters: Its Relationship with Temperature, Reproduction, and Pollutant Body Burden

AbstractOysters from 48 Gulf of Mexico sites were examined for presence and infection intensity of the endoparasite, Perkinsus (= Dermocystidium) marinus (Mackin, Owen and Collier, 1950) as part of NOAA's Status and Trends Mussel Watch Program. Prevalence exceeded 75% at 25 sites. Infection intensity did not vary with sex or reproductive stage. Latitude, total polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content and industrial and agricultural land use significantly affected the parasite's distribution. PAH and pesticide concentrations were latitudinally dependent, suggesting an impact of spawning frequency on uptake and depuration. P. marinus analysis complements the use of pollutant body burden for determining change in environmental quality because it responds differently than pollutant body burden to the biology and ecology of the oyster.

The polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content of archived sewage sludges

Twenty nine anaerobically digested, lagoon dried sewage sludges were analysed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These sludges had been applied to the plots of a long term agricultural experiment from 1942 to 1961. The exact dates of sludge production and treatment are unknown, although they are likely to be 1–5 years prior to sludge application dates. The sludges had a mean ΣPAH (defined as the sum of the compounds measured) concentration of 50 mg/kg, with a range of 18–125 mg/kg. The most abundant compound was benzo[ghi]perylene with a mean concentration of 10 mg/kg. A trend is apparent in the ΣPAH content through time, increasing until 1948 to over 125 mg/kg, then decreasing to 29 mg/kg by 1961. These changes are tentatively attributed to changes in air quality and smoke emissions. The PAH content of contemporary sludges is also reviewed.

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content of particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere of La Plata, Argentina

Twelve polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were evaluated by chromatographic procedures using a HPLC-UV detector and a GC-FID detector. The PAH were evaluated in airborne particulate matter collected in La Plata, Argentina, over a period of 2 years (with sampling periods of ∼ 4 months). The samples were size fractionated, and the PAH in each fraction determined. The analytical procedure used was as follows: extraction in benzene, concentration at room temperature, clean-up in a silica gel column and, finally, evaluation by chromatographic procedures. The extraction recovery was 76.2 ± 5.8% for naphthalene and 96.0 ± 6.2% for chrysene. Clean-up recovery was 87.8 ± 7.15% for phenanthrene and 98.1 ± 8.3% for anthracene. The largest PAH load was present in the smallest fractions. The smallest particles were carbonaceous in nature. The concentration peak was associated both with the total mass of airborne particulate matter and the reduction in amounts of coarse particles. The PAH distribution could not be correlated with characteristic physicochemical properties such as water solubility or the octanol-water distribution coefficient. The PAH load was greater in fall and winter than in spring and summer. This could be attributed to the reduction of photochemical processes during the cold seasons.

Changes in the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content of wheat grain and pasture grassland over the last century from one site in the U.K.

Crops harvested and stored from two long-term agricultural experiments started in the 1840–1850s at Rothamsted Experimental Station (U.K.) have been analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) because PAHs have increased four-to-five fold in the underlying 0–23 cm depth of soil over the last century due to atmospheric deposition. Bulked samples of herbage and wheat grain were analyzed for 16 compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for groups of years between 1860 and 1986. The ζPAH (16 PAH) concentrations in herbage ranged between 110 and 6900 μg kg −1 dry weight, with fluoranthene, pyrene, benzofluoranthenes ( b + j + k), chrysene and triphenylene consistently the most abundant. Benz[ a]anthracene, benzo[ ghi]perylene, benzo[ a]pyrene, benzo[ e]pyrene and indeno(1,2,3- cd)pyrene were also all important constituents. PAH concentrations in wheat grain ranged from 4 to 46 μg ζPAH kg −1; the mixture of individual compounds was similar to that in herbage. Correcting for yield differences these corresponded to 37–1500 and 2.4–8.8 μg ζPAH m −2 for herbage and wheat grain respectively. The lowest values were found in the most recent samples (1980s) and the highest for samples collected in 1879–1881. Generally, there was a decline in the PAH burden of the vegetation with time. The temporal trends of PAHs in the samples are discussed in the context of possible sources of PAHs. Various lines of evidence indicate that the PAH concentrations in vegetation are an indication of atmospheric deposition directly onto the above-ground plant portions, and that uptake and translocation of soil-bound PAHs is of minor importance.

Induced cytochrome P-450 in Fundulus heteroclitus associated with environmental contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons

Fundulus heteroclitus were collected from two sites in Rhode Island during the non-spawning season and analyzed for hepatic monooxygenase activities and for whole-body concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Microsomal protein, total spectral cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b 5 content did not differ between Seekonk River and Succotash Salt Marsh fish. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was significantly higher (3-fold) in Fundulus from the Seekonk River than in fish from Succotash Salt Marsh. Similarly, levels of the immunodetectable homolog of P-450E in Fundulus, a representative of the major PAH-inducible P-450 form (P450IA1) in teleosts, were higher in fish from the Seekonk River. In contrast, rates of aldrin epoxidase (AE) activity were the same in fish from the two sites. Concentrations of PCB were 1000-fold, and PAH 60-fold, greater in Seekonk River sediment than in Succotash Salt Marsh sediment. The bioavailability of these contaminants is not known, but the relative degree of contamination in the sediments is reflected in the fish tissues. Fish from both sites had very low concentrations of PAH in their tissues, representing as little as 0·1% of the concentration in the sediment, with tissue concentrations in Seekonk River fish exceeding those of Succotash fish by 4-fold. Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in Seekonk fish (1860 ± 176 ng per g dry weight) were 3-fold higher than in Succotash Marsh fish (636 ± 217 ng per g). These concentrations were nearly the same (Seekonk fish) or 300-fold greater (Succotash Marsh fish) than PCB concentrations in the surrounding sediment. The result is consistent with a rapid metabolism of PAH while PCBs appear to be slowly eliminated by these fish. Tissue PCB concentrations in Seekonk River fish were similar to those known to elicit strong P-450 induction in Fundulus. Thus, levels of hepatic P-450E and EROD activity, but not AE activity, reflect relative tissue concentrations of PCB and PAH in Fundulus from two sites. Liver hypertrophy was also observed in Seekonk River fish, indicating that altered liver function may have occurred in these animals.

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in an agricultural soil: Long-term changes in profile distribution

Soil profile samples collected from the same plot at Rothamsted Experimental Station in southeast England in 1893, 1944 and 1987 have been analysed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The total PAH burden of the plough layer (0–23 cm) has increased approximately four- to five-fold since the 1890s, with some compounds (notably benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene and pyrene) showing substantially greater increases. Average rates of increase in the plough layer for individual PAHs in the Rothamsted plots over the century since c. 1890 vary between 0.01 and 0.67 mg m−2 year−1. It is concluded that atmospheric deposition from natural sources has been augmented in recent years by regional fallout of anthropogenically-generated PAHs derived from the combustion of fossil fuels.The total PAH content of the 1893 Rothamsted samples was similar to that observed in soils from contemporary isolated/rural locations in the UK and showed little surface enrichment. By 1987 the surface soil at Rothamsted had been enriched in all PAH compounds measured by a factor of between 1.3 (acenaphthalene) and over 20 (benzo(a)pyrene). Increases in the PAH content of the 23–46 cm subsurface layer indicate migration of PAHs from the plough layer. Net average annual migration rates ranged from 0.01–0.14 mg m−2 year−1 for individual PAHs, and the rate appeared to be primarily a function of the plough layer PAH content, rather than physical/chemical properties of the individual compounds. This suggests particle-bound translocation as the dominant mechanism of PAH migration.

Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon seep communities: Part III. aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in organisms, sediments and water

Organism tissues from areas of natural oil seepage contain significant amounts of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Higher concentrations are found in sedentary organisms (i.e. mussels and tube worms) than in more mobile species (i.e. fish). The PAH distributions indicate that the seep organisms are exposed to sediment and/or water associated PAH. The concentration and composition of PAH in sedentary organisms are similar to that of an oyster from a coastal site indicating similar mechanisms of PAH uptake, depuration and accumulation. Tissue PAH concentrations indicate that these organisms are chronically exposed to high levels of petroleum in their environments and yet thriving communities are present at these locations. Microbial biomass in these seep areas is also substantially enhanced, and the carbon isotopic composition of tissues of organisms from higher trophic levels reflects the incorporation of bacterial biomass. The sedimentary sulfur cycle is heavily influenced by the process of natural oil and gas seepage and plays a key role in maintaining these communities. The primary source of isotopically light carbon to the system can be solely derived from chemosynthesis (H 2S or CH 4). The role of degraded oil as a partial source of light carbon to some organisms cannot be ruled out.

Increases in the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content of an agricultural soil over the last century

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTIncreases in the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content of an agricultural soil over the last centuryKevin C. Jones, Jennifer A. Stratford, Keith S. Waterhouse, Edward T. Furlong, Walter Giger, Ronald A. Hites, Christian Schaffner, and A. E. JohnstonCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 1989, 23, 1, 95–101Publication Date (Print):January 1, 1989Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 January 1989https://doi.org/10.1021/es00178a012RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views389Altmetric-Citations161LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (933 KB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

Determination of trace organic compounds in effluents from a coal-fired power plant.

Solid and gaseous emissions from a power plant fired with South African coal and maintained at full load (320 MWe) were characterized for their composition in polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and n-alkanes (n-A). 25 n-A (from C12 to C36) and 34 PAH (from naphthalene to coronene) were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Samples were collected in different points of the plant: the bottom hopper of the boiler, the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) hopper and the ductwork system before and after the ESP. The pulverized coal was also analysed by the same procedure in order to find any correlation with the composition of emissions. PAH concentration profiles of the coal and the combustion products, which will be useful for evaluation of environmental impact, were obtained.

NOAA Gulf of Mexico Status and Trends Program: Trace Organic Contaminant Distribution in Sediments and Oysters

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), chlorinated pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) concentrations were determined in sediment and oysters to provide information on the current status of the concentration of these contaminants in Gulf of Mexico coastal areas removed from point sources of input. Coprostanol analyses of sediments showed that anthropogenic materials are associated with the sediments at all 153 stations sampled. The levels of contaminants encountered are low compared with areas of known contamination. Average PAH concentrations are nearly the same in oysters and sediments, although the molecular weight distribution is different. Average DDT and PCB concentrations are higher by a factor of 10 to 130 in oysters as compared to sediments. Continued sampling and analyses will allow for long-term trends in the concentrations of these contaminants to be determined.

Calcutta Pollutants: Part II. Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon and Some Metal Concentration on Air Particulates During Winter 1984

Abstract The concentration of 25 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and 12 metals on air-particulate matter of Calcutta city were determined during January–February 1984. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was applied for determination of metal concentration and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for PAH determination. Both PAH and metal concentrations found are present at higher concentration when compared with cities in Europe and USA.