The
Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 12 No 1 (2008): 69 - 76
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN URBAN SOILS
OF KEMAMAN
Norhayati Mohd Tahir1, Lee Boon Jeen1, Hasra Masrifah Abd. Rahim1,
Marinah Ariffin1, Suhaimi
Suratman1
and Mhd Radzi
Abas2
1Department of Chemical Sciences,
Faculty of Science and Technology,Universiti
Malaysia Terengganu,
Mengabang Telipot,
21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya (UM), 50603 Kuala Lumpur
Abstract
A
study has been carried out to determine the concentration and distribution of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban soils of Kemaman, Terengganu.
Surface soil samples (< 500 ΅m) were ultrasonicated using dichloromethane as
solvent and the extracts fractionated on silica-alumina column. Detection and
quantification of 16 priority PAHs compounds were carried out using GC-FID.
With the exception of two stations, results generally indicated that the sum of
16 priority PAHs concentration (total PAHs)
in soils ranged
from to 6.3
to 176 ΅g/kg (dry
weight); the two
stations which exhibited significantly higher levels of
total PAHs was at the main road junction located at the heart of the commercial
centre of the town (535 ΅g/kg) and at an industrial estate, adjacent to a
sawmill (547 ΅g/kg). Statistical analysis suggests that there is a significant
difference in total PAHs concentration (p<0.05) with sampling sites. Most
common PAHs compound observed in almost all the soil samples was BgP indicating
the importance of vehicular emission as a source of PAHs in these soils. In
addition, contribution of biomass burning to the presence of PAHs in these
soils was also observed as indicated by a positive correlation between
Benzo[a]pyrene with total PAHs.
Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, urban soils, ultrasonic agitation method, vehicular
emissions,
References
1. Van
Brumelen, T.C., Verweij, S.A. Wedzinga, S.A and Van Gestel, C.A.M. (1996). Enrichment of polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons in
forest soils near a
blast furnace plant. Chemosphere,
32:293-314.
2. Kim, Eun-Jung, Oh Jeong-Eun, Chang, Yoon-Seok (2003). Effects
of forest fire on the level and
distribution of PCDD/Fs and PAHs in soil. The Sci.
Total Env., 311:177-189.
3. Lunde,
G. and Bjorseth,
A. (1977). Polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons in long range transported
aerosol. Nature, 268:
518-519
4. Aanot, E., Steinnes, E. and Schmid, R. (1996). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Norwegian forest soils:
impact of long range atmospheric
transport. Environ. Poll.,
92:275-280.
5. Bakker, M.I., Casado, B., Koerselman, J.W., Tolls, J and Kollofel, C. (2001) Polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon in soil
and plant samples
from
the vicinity of an oil
refinery. Sci. Total
Env.,
263: 91-100
6. Simoneit, Bernd R.T. (2002). Biomass burning - a review of organic tracers for smoke from incomplete combustion. Appl.
Geochem., 17:129-162.
7. Nasr,
Yousef M. J. Omar, M. Radzi Abas, Kamal Aziz Ketuly and Norhayati Mohd Tahir (2002).
Concentrations of PAHs in atmospheric particles (PM-10) and roadside soil particles collected
in Kuala Lumpur, Malays.
Atmos.
Environ., 36:247-254.
8. Norhayati Mohd Tahir, Abd. Ghani Abd. Manas, Hasra Masrifah
Abd Rahim, Suhaimi Suratman and
Mhd Radzi Abas (2005). Distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils of Kuala Terengganu:
a preliminary study. Malays. J. Anal. Sci.,
In press.
9. UNEP.
1992.
Reference method
for marine
pollution
studies
no.20 (IOC,
IAEA). United
Nation Environmental
Programme.