Distribution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soil around the Jiaozuo power plant

The distribution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soils around the Jiaozuo Power Plant were studied. The soil samples were Soxhlet extracted and the contents of 16 EPA priority PAHs in the extract were determined using gas chromatography. Ten EPA priority PAHs were detected in the soil samples. The total PAHs residues in the samples of this area ranged from 30.6 to 740.8 μg·kg-1,reaching the level of light pollution. The contents of fluoranthene,phenanthrene and pyrene,three species of carcinogenic PAHs,accounted for 42% of the total content of PAHs,suggesting potential ecological risk from the PAHs in this area. Considering the composition of the PAHs,it can be concluded that the dominant source of PAHs in this area was combustion of coal. The maximum concentration of total PAHs and of the single compounds were detected from 1000~1500 m around the plant,and in the top 0~5 cm of the soil. The studies indicate that the abundance of fluoranthene,phenanthrene and pyrene were highly correlated with the total PAHs concentrations with correlation coefficients between 0.625 to 0.999 (α=0.05),suggesting the abundance of these three compounds might be good indicators for the total abundance of the PAHs in the soil around the power plant.