PAH Contamination in Soils Adjacent to a Coal-Transporting Facility in Tapin District, South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the level of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), listed as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), in surface soils around a coal-transporting facility in the western part of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Three composite soil samples were collected from a coal stockpile, coal-hauling road, and coal port. Identification and quantification of PAH was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The total content of 16 USEPA-PAH ranged from 11.79 to 55.30 mg/kg with arithmetic mean value of 33.14 mg/kg and median of 32.33 mg/kg. The 16 USEPA-PAH measured levels were found to be greater compared with most of the literature values. The levels of high molecular-weight PAH (5- and 6-ring) were dominant and formed 67.77-80.69 % of the total 16 USEPA-PAH The most abundant of individual PAH are indeno[1,2,3-cd] pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene with concentration ranges of 2.11-20.56 and 1.59-17.84 mg/kg, respectively. The degree of PAH contamination and subsequent toxicity assessment suggest that the soils of the study area are highly contaminated and pose a potential health risk to humans.

Understanding the drivers ofSoutheastAsian biodiversity loss

“…). In addition to direct damage from clearance, the extraction of coal also contaminates soils (Mizwar and Trihadiningrum ) and therefore is likely to contaminate soil and freshwater.…”

“…Despite the fact that a framework to minimize the impacts of mining has been considered (Maryati et al 2012), it has clearly not been implemented in detail as coal mining is the fourth greatest cause of deforestation for large parts (Kalimantan, Sumatra) of Indonesia (Abood et al 2014). In addition to direct damage from clearance, the extraction of coal also contaminates soils (Mizwar and Trihadiningrum 2015) and therefore is likely to contaminate soil and freshwater.…”

Changes in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Soil Biological Parameters in a Revegetated Coal Mine Spoil

“…Total PAH concentration in soils around the Anhui coal district, China ranged from 0 · 13 to 3 · 54 mg kg −1 with a mean concentration of 0 · 84 mg kg −1 (Wang et al, ). In another study on soils around a coal‐transporting facility located in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, the total PAH content ranged from 11 · 79 to 55 · 30 mg kg −1 (Mizwar & Trihadiningrum, ).…”

Bioremediation of soil contaminated with native polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from unburnt coal using an in-vessel composting method

“…An extensive description of the site and the procedures for soil sampling and preparation were reported in our previous study (Mizwar and Trihadiningrum 2015). Before experimentation, the soil was air-dried and homogenized by passing it through a 2-mm sieve.…”

“…Higher concentrations of 3.17 and 185.07 mg kg ¡1 soil were observed by Sun et al (2009) in a coal processing site in Jiulong, China. Meanwhile, our previous study showed that the concentration totals of 16 USEPA-PAHs in soils at a coal stockpile, a coal-hauling road, and a coal port in Tapin District, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, were 11.79, 32.33, and 55.30 mg kg ¡1 , respectively (Mizwar and Trihadiningrum 2015). These concentrations were significantly higher than the natural level of PAHs found in soil (0.001-0.01 mg kg ¡1 ) (Edwards 1983) and also exceeded the Dutch standards (0.02-0.05 mg kg ¡1 ), the Mexican standards (0-6 mg kg ¡1 ), and the Polish standards (0.02-10 mg kg ¡1 ) (Ray et al 2008), thus requiring remediation.…”