PCBs, PCNs, and PCDD/Fs in Soil around an Industrial Park in Northwest China: Levels, Source Apportionment, and Human Health Risk

Abstract

The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined in soil samples collected around an industrial park in Northwest China, to investigate the potential impacts of park emissions on the surrounding environment. The total concentration ranges of PCBs, PCNs, and PCDD/Fs in the soil samples were in 13.2–1240, 141–832, and 3.60–156 pg/g, respectively. The spatial distribution and congener patterns of PCBs, PCNs, and PCCD/Fs indicated that there might be multiple contamination sources in the study area, so source apportionments of PCBs, PCNs, and PCCD/Fs were performed by a positive matrix factorization model based on the concentrations of all target congeners together. The results revealed that these highly chlorinated congeners (CB-209, CN-75, and OCDF) might be derived from phthalocyanine pigments, the legacy of Halowax 1051 and 2,4-D products, which together contributed nearly half of the total concentration of target compounds (44.5%). In addition to highly chlorinated congeners, the local industrial thermal processes were mainly responsible for the contamination of PCBs, PCNs, and PCDD/Fs in the surrounding soil. The total carcinogenic risk of PCBs, PCNs, and PCDD/Fs in a few soil samples (0.22 × 10−6, 0.32 × 10−6, and 0.40 × 10−6) approached the threshold of potential carcinogenic risk (1.0 × 10−6). Since these pollutants can continuously accumulate in the soil, the contamination of PCBs, PCNs, and PCDD/Fs in surrounding soil deserves continuous attention.

Developing an Improved Strategy for the Analysis of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins/Furans and Dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Contaminated Soils Using a Combination of a One-Step Cleanup Method and Gas Chromatography with Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry

“…The concentrations of other interferences are considerably higher than those of the target analytes in contaminated soil; therefore, sample cleanup is required to remove the interferences prior to analysis and quantification. Among the sample cleanup methods, open-column absorption chromatography is commonly used for sorbents, such as silica, alumina, and Florisil [ 13 , 37 , 38 ]. In this study, a combination of multilayer silica gel and Florisil micro-columns was employed after sulfuric acid treatment.…”

“…Most studies have focused on the direct exposure of the human body to POPs through food, animal feeds, and air; however, few studies have considered the contamination and toxicity of POPs in soil. The POP concentration in soil varies depending on the type of soil; the PCDD/F and dl-PCB concentrations in soil around industrial parks and incinerators are higher than in other environmental matrices [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Assumptions on Health Risks in Consuming Vermonia amygdalina and Fruits (Musa sp.) in Koko, Nigeria

“…Although the inhabitants are knowledgeable to an extent about the deleterious effect of products from industries in the area, which has prompted the ban on live fish consumption from their surrounding rivers [18], the indigenous settlers constantly consume home-grown fruits and vegetables, which have the ability to accumulate pollutants [6], [11]. These pollutants are distributed across ecological systems through ecosystem processes (natural and man-made) [18], [19]. Their movements cut across environmental components, thus compromising the health status of the community dwellers [14].…”

“…Their movements cut across environmental components, thus compromising the health status of the community dwellers [14]. With shared information on arochlors of persistent organic pollutants, which states that the higher the compound, the more site-specific action it performs on organs in organisms and humans [3], [19], [17], the contamination and ecological risk hit a critical point in ecosystems. Assessing the likelihood of neurological and death-trap sickness and diseases caused upon consuming V. amygdalina and Musa sp.…”