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An investigation into the occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in two soil size fractions at a former industrial site in NE England, UK using in situ PFE–GC–MS

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Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations were determined in 16 topsoils (0–10 cm) collected across the site of a former tar works in NE England. The soils were prepared in the laboratory to two different particle size fractions: <250 μm (fraction A) and >250 μm to <2 mm (fraction B). Sixteen priority PAHs were analysed in the soils using in situ pressurised fluid extraction (PFE) followed by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The average total PAH concentration in the soils ranged from 9.0 to 1,404 mg/kg (soil fraction A) and from 6.6 to 872 mg/kg (soil fraction B). These concentrations are high compared with other industrially contaminated soils reported in the international literature, indicating that the tar works warrants further investigation/remediation. A predominance of higher-molecular-weight compounds was determined in the samples, suggesting that the PAHs were of pyrogenic (anthropogenic) origin. Statistical comparison (t-test) of the mean total PAH concentrations in soil fractions A and B indicated that there was a significant difference (95% confidence interval) between the fractions in all but two of the soil samples. Additionally, comparisons of the distributions of individual PAHs (i.e. 16 PAHs × 16 soil samples) in soil fractions A and B demonstrated generally higher PAH concentrations in fraction A (i.e. 65.8% of all individual PAH concentrations were higher in soil fraction A). This is important because fraction A corresponds to the particle size thought to be most important in terms of human contact with soils and potential threats to human health.

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Acknowledgments

Northumbria University is acknowledged for the award of a studentship to one of us (D.L.) in collaboration with the British Geological Survey. Newcastle City Council is acknowledged for allowing access to the study site. Dr. Jane Entwistle is acknowledged for providing the map in Fig. 1. The authors also acknowledge the contribution of the Special Issue Editor (Fiona Fordyce) in providing valuable comments during the editing of the manuscript. This paper is published with the permission of the Director of the British Geological Survey.

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  1. School of Applied Sciences, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Ellison Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK

    Damien Lorenzi & John R. Dean

  2. British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK

    Mark Cave

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  1. Damien Lorenzi
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Correspondence to John R. Dean.

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Lorenzi, D., Cave, M. & Dean, J.R. An investigation into the occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in two soil size fractions at a former industrial site in NE England, UK using in situ PFE–GC–MS. Environ Geochem Health 32, 553–565 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-010-9316-8

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