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Levels, Distribution and Source Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Topsoils and Roadside Soils in Esbjerg, Denmark

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Abstract

A soil survey was performed to determine the levels, distributions and sources of 6 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 9 selected soil environments in Esbjerg, Denmark. In all, 24 soil samples were collected and the PAHs present were extracted with dichloromethane and analysed using GC/MS/MS with ion trap detector (TCD). There were elevated levels of the individual as well as the total PAHs in the soil samples and also, all 6 PAHs were present in all the soil samples. The most abundant components were fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene. The average sum of the 6 PAHs in all soil samples was 2.5 mg.kg−1, with range from 0.24 to 7.6 mg kg−1. The total mean PAH concentration obtained was 1.67 times higher than the total limit set by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) whiles the mean benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) concentration (0.6 mg kg−1) also 6 times the Soil Quality Criteria (Human Health) (0.1 mg kg−1) by DEPA and 2 times the Maximum Permissible Concentrations (0.26 mg kg−1) by the Netherlands for BaP. This shows that there are elevated levels of PAH deposition on the Esbjerg soil environment which needs an urgent attention. The diagnostic ratios and the correlation analysis identified mixed petrogenic and pyrogenic sources as the main contributors of PAHs on the Esbjerg environment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Dorte and her team in the laboratory whose immense support helped in this study. To Daniel Ankrah (a PhD student at Aalborg University) we say thank you very much for your support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Section of Chemical Engineering, Aalborg University, Niels Bohrs Vej 8, 6700, Esbjerg, Denmark

    D. K. Essumang, K. Kowalski & E. G. Sogaard

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  1. D. K. Essumang
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  2. K. Kowalski
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  3. E. G. Sogaard
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Correspondence to E. G. Sogaard.

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Essumang, D.K., Kowalski, K. & Sogaard, E.G. Levels, Distribution and Source Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Topsoils and Roadside Soils in Esbjerg, Denmark. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 86, 438–443 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0232-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0232-0

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