Uptake and acropetal translocation of 14 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in 15 field-contaminated soils were investigated in a growth chamber. PAH concentrations in roots correlated positively with the corresponding concentrations in soils and negatively with the contents of soil organic carbon (p < 0.01). No clear linear relationship was found between log RCF (root concentration factor, µg g -1 root/µg g -1 soil on dry weight basis) and log K ow of these PAHs. Four-ring PAHs had the highest tendency to be taken up by roots. PAH concentrations in shoots correlated well with their concentrations in soils and roots. Furthermore, distribution profiles of PAHs in shoots were fairly similar to those in soils. Acropetal translocation of 10 PAHs (with log K ow varying from 3.45 to 5.78) was also implicated by R t (ratio of PAH from root-to-shoot translocation to the total accumulation in shoots) ranging from 53.6 to 72.6%. A negative linear relationship was found between log R t and log K ow of these PAHs (p < 0.01), and acropetal translocation of PAHs depended on their chemical properties.

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