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Vertical distribution and environmental significance of PAHs in soil profiles in Beijing, China

Environmental Geochemistry and Health volume 31, pages 119–131 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Vertical distribution of both the concentration and composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ten profiles in Beijing has been investigated. The results showed that PAH concentrations and compositions in topsoil from different sampling sites were different. PAH concentrations were much higher in topsoil of the investigated urban area, industrial region, and paddy field with wastewater irrigation than in other areas. Moreover, PAH concentrations in topsoil were much higher than those at greater depth, where the concentrations were relatively consistent in most soil profiles. The fingerprints of PAHs in the samples from topsoil (0–30 cm) in the same profiles were similar and were obviously different from those at greater depth, suggesting that PAH sources were consistent in topsoil samples and were discriminating between topsoil and deeper soils. PAHs in topsoil mainly arose from mixed sources of combustion of liquid fuel, coal, and/or wood, as well as wastewater irrigation, while those at greater depth were derived from soil genesis and the process of soil formation.

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Acknowledgements

The National Natural Science Foundation of China should be thanked for its support of this project (NSFC No. 40473045 and No. 40332015). The authors thank Luofu Liu and Jeff Zheng, China University of Petroleum, whose suggestions have improved the language of the manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing, 100875, P.R. China

    Qing Wei Bu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resource and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, No. 18, Fuxue Road Changping, Beijing, 102200, P.R. China

    Qing Wei Bu, Zhi Huan Zhang, Song Lu & Feng Peng He

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  1. Qing Wei Bu
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  2. Zhi Huan Zhang
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Correspondence to Zhi Huan Zhang.

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Bu, Q.W., Zhang, Z.H., Lu, S. et al. Vertical distribution and environmental significance of PAHs in soil profiles in Beijing, China. Environ Geochem Health 31, 119–131 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-008-9171-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-008-9171-z

Keywords

  • PAHs
  • Soil
  • Vertical distribution
  • Source identification
  • Beijing