Distribution behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in roadside soil at traffic intercepts within developing cities

Abstract

A study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution in roadside soil was conducted in developing city environment of northern India during autumn and winter season to ascertain the contamination levels and their distribution behavior in soil. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was determined at ten locations of Jalandhar city, Punjab in India at 1, 2 and 3 m distances from roadside in soil covering all the major traffic intercepts within city. The samples were extracted in acetone and dichloromethane (1:1) using soxhlet extraction. The extracts were then filtered on a silica gel micro column to remove impurities and elute was subjected to GC-FID. The total average concentration (city average) was found to be 4.04 µg/g and 16.38 µg/g during winter and autumn respectively. DiBenzo (ah) Anthracene and Benzo (a) Pyrene were the individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in highest concentration at all the intercepts ranging between 0.008 to 28.4 µg/g during winter and 0.01 to 252.55 µg/g during autumn. Average concentration of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during winter and autumn was found to be 2.1 and 6.4 and 4.74 and 35.08 µg/g respectively. The average ratio of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons was found to be 1:3 during winter, and 1:7.6 during autumn at most of the intercepts. Total carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentration was found quite high (80 %) in comparison to non-carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (20 %) at most of the intercepts.

Street dust bound PAHs, carbon and heavy metals in Guwahati city – Seasonality, toxicity and sources

“…The levels of present study were much lower than the reported levels out of road dust of industrial city, Korea (11,840-245,120 ng g −1 ) (Lee & Dong, 2011). The levels were higher than the reported levels from Shanghai, China (6875-32,573 ng g −1 ) (Liu et al, 2007), Delhi, India (1062-9652 ng g −1 ) (Agarwal, 2009), Dalian, China (1890-17,070 ng g −1 ) (Wang, Yang, Jia, Zhou, & Li, 2009), Tehran, Iran (11,107-24,342 ng g −1 ) (Samimi et al, 2009), Hunan, China (3515-24,488 ng g −1 ) (Long, Chi, Qing, Dai, & Wu, 2011) and Punjab, India (770-46,460 ng g −1 ) (Kumar & Kothiyal, 2011). The comparison of street dust PAHs concentrations estimated in the present study with previous works depicts higher levels of PAHs in the present study.…”

Distribution behavior and carcinogenic level of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in roadside soil at major traffic intercepts within a developing city of India

“…The prepared samples were kept preserved in an ambercolored sample tubes in refrigerator below 4°C for analysis. The samples were later analyzed for the types and concentration of PAHs by GC (Kumar and Kothiyal 2011).…”

Particle associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmospheric environment of urban and suburban residential area

“…The impact of automobile emission on environment, predominantly on soil, air and water is increased day by day. Automobile emissions have shown a tremendous impact on the environment during the last few years (Kumar and Kothiyal, 2011). Proliferation of motor transport, rather than industrial activities, is advanced in political and/or commercial cities as providing the main contribution to growing levels of pollution such as PAHs.…”