Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2015, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (3): 390-397.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2015.03.019

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Distribution and Sources of PAHS in Soil at the Site of a Former Typical Pesticide Plant

ZHANG  Xiao-Fei, LIN  Yu-Suo, DENG  Shao-Po, LONG  Tao, XU  Jian, HUANG  Yao   

  1. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences,Nanjing Agricultural University
  • Received:2014-12-23 Revised:2015-04-08 Online:2015-05-25 Published:2015-09-22

Abstract: A field investigation was carried out of the site of a deserted pesticide plant to explore content, distribution and possible sources of PAHs, a kind of chemicals extremely hazardous to human health. Results show that PAHs were detected in the soil 0-6.0 m in depth. In the soil samples with PAHs detected, benzoapyrene (Bap), a kind of strong carcinogen, averaged 1.63 mg•kg-1 in concentration, with the highest reaching 8.83 mg•kg-1 and 60% fell into the category of “heavily polluted”. With increasing soil depth, concentration and detection rate of polycyclic PAHs gradually decreased. In the 0-1.2 m soil layer, the percentages of ≤3-ring PAHs, 4-ring PAHs and≥5-ring PAHs in total PAHs were almost equal and phenathrene (Phe), Fluoranthene (Fla) and pyrene (Pyr) were the dominant chemicals. In the 1.2-6.0 m soil layer, PAHs with 3 or fewer rings became dominant, and was mainly consisted of naphthalene (Nap) and 2-methylnaphthalene (2-Mnap).  Characteristic compounds molecule ratio analysis reveals that PAHs in the soil of the site came mainly from 2 sources:one is leakage of petroleum products from the plant in the process of their being used in production of pesticides and burning of wastes, and the other is burning of grass, wood, coal and other garbage. Checking with the layout of the former pesticide plant, it was found that the sites of soil samples containing PAHs coincide with those of the workshops of the former pesticide plant, indicating a strong relationship between the presence of PAHs in the soil and the production activities of the former plant.

Key words: pesticide plant, PAHs, distribution, source

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