Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Soils of the Moscow Region— Concentrations, Temporal Trends, and Small‐Scale Distribution

Abstract

The knowledge of the environmental fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is restricted to few climatic regions of the world almost excluding the Taiga. Our objectives were to (i) separate anthropogenic from background contributions to PAH concentrations and (ii) determine temporal trends in PAH concentrations during the last century including the change in distribution of PAHs in interior and exterior portions of aggregates in soils of the Moscow region. Along a southeast-bound transect from Moscow (windward in winter) and at a background location northeast of Moscow (leeward in winter), seven topsoil samples were collected in 1910-1954 and 35 in 1998-2003. We fractionated the soils in interior and exterior portions of aggregates > 10 mm and remaining soil without aggregates. The sum of 21 PAHs (sigma21PAHs) concentrations in recent bulk soil ranged from 59 to 1350 ng g(-1). The concentrations of all PAHs were lower outside than in Moscow. The range of the concentrations of the sigma21PAHs in archived soil samples (159-1280 ng g(-1)) was similar as in recent soils. In most recent and archived samples, naphthalene and phenanthrene, were most abundant. The concentrations of low-molecular-weight PAHs decreased during the last century at most sites; those of high-molecular-weight compounds increased. The sigma21PAHs concentrations were accumulated in the exterior of aggregates (109%) and depleted in the interior (95%) relative to the concentration in bulk soil (defined as 100%), which was similar to that in the soil without aggregates (99%). The differences between aggregate interior and exterior did not change during the last century. The dominance of naphthalene and phenanthrene is typical of remote regions. The urban influence on PAH concentrations in the last century was small.

<b>SPATIAL VARIATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN SOIL</b>

“…The areas in the map that are lighter in shades corresonds to low concentrations of PAHs which is typical of most rural areas, while areas with darker or intense shades are representative of higher concentrations of PAHs. The concentrations of all PAHs in the soils tended to decline with increasing distance from the Refinery locations which was similarly reported in the study of temporal trends and distribution of PAHs in soils of Mosco [28]. …”

Photochemistry of 1-Nitronaphthalene: A Potential Source of Singlet Oxygen and Radical Species in Atmospheric Waters

“…These compounds could be able to start photochemical and photosensitized reactions upon radiation absorption. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute one of the most widespread classes of organic pollutants in water, soil and atmosphere [2][3][4][5][6][7] , and received particular attention due to their mutagenic effects 8 . The PAH nitroderivatives also cause concern for their direct mutagenicity.…”

Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Datuo karst Tiankeng of South China

“…recorded a range from 190-8,595 ng/g in soils from Dalian. There are also records in remote or pristine European and US soils as seen in Moscow soils: 59-1,350 ng/g (Nikiforova and Alekseeva 2002;Wilcke et al 2005) and North American Prairie: 63-321 ng/g (Wilcke and Amelung 2000). The reason for the lower concentration of PAHs in this study area when compared to soils of other historic studies can be attributed to the geographical location and the geology of the study site.…”

“…Studies exists to show the levels of polycyclic hydrocarbons in soils in China and other parts of the world Wang et al 2007;Zhu et al 2004;Wilcke and Amelung 2000;Wilcke et al 2005), but no bibliographic reference or report exists to show any research has been done in the Tiankeng (sinkhole) soil for the presence of PAHs. Thus, the results acquired in this study provide the first, or background data, on the trends of PAHs in Tiankengs and contributes to our understanding of PAHs and their role in sinkholes such as Tiankengs.…”