The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 12 No 3 (2008): 609 – 618

 

 

 

CONCENTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs) IN THE TOWN OF KOTA BHARU,

KELANTAN DARUL NAIM

 

Muhammad Fais Fadzil, Norhayati Mohd Tahir* and Wan Mohd Khairul Wan Mohd Zin

 

Environmental Research Group (ERG), Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Mengabang Telipot, 21030 Kuala Terengganu

 

*Correspondence author: hayati@umt.edu.my

 

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the concentration and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils of Kota Bharu, Kelantan Darul Naim. A total of 20 sampling sites were chosen covering the town center and surrounding suburban area of this district. PAHs in soil matrix were extracted using ultrasonic agitation technique with dichloromethane as extraction solvent. Fractionation of PAHs were done using silica-alumina column and the characterization of these individual components were  carried  out  using  GCMS.  Priority  PAHs  (PAH16   as  defined  by  the  U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency)  were predominantly represented by four to six ring compounds with concentration ranging between 0.022 µ gg-1  to 24.06 µ gg-1. Based on ratios of selected molecular markers, it can be concluded that PAHs in soil were generally derived from combustion sources. A strong correlation between benzo (g,h,i)perylene w ith total identified PAHs strongly  suggest that vehicular emission is the major constituent of this combustion sources.

 

Keywords: PAHs, ,Kota Bahru ,soils, combustion sources, vehicular emission.

 

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