Assessing the Spatial Distribution of Soil PAHs and their Relationship with Anthropogenic Activities at a National Scale

Siyan Zeng, Jing Ma, Yanhua Ren, Gang-Jun Liu, Qi Zhang and Fu Chen
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Siyan Zeng: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
Jing Ma: Low Carbon Energy Institute, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
Yanhua Ren: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
Gang-Jun Liu: Geospatial Sciences, College of Science, Engineering, and Health, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia
Qi Zhang: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China
Fu Chen: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-22

Abstract: Soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution is a major concern due to its negative impact on soil quality around the world. In China, accurate data on soil PAHs and information on the relationship with anthropogenic activities are limited. In this study, about 30,800 samples from 1833 soil sample sites were reviewed from 306 published reports to build a soil PAHs database. Based on the data obtained, the results demonstrated that 24.11% of surface soils in China are heavily contaminated. Meanwhile, the concentration of soil PAHs varied, in the order of independent mining and industrial areas (IMIA) > urban areas > suburban areas > rural areas, and the spatial distribution in China demonstrated a descending trend from north to south. Moreover, the characteristic ratio and PCA-MLR (principal component analysis-multiple linear regression) analysis demonstrated that coal combustion and vehicular exhaust emissions were the main sources of soil PAH pollution in China. On the other hand, provincial total Σ 16 PAHs in surface soil were significantly correlated with the per square kilometer GDP (gross domestic product) of industrial land, the per capita GDP, as well as the production and consumption of energy. These results indicate that anthropogenic factors have greatly affected the levels of soil PAHs in China. This study improves our understanding on the status and sources of soil PAH contamination in China, thereby facilitating the implementation of strategies of prevention, control, and remediation of soils.

Keywords: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; contamination; spatial variation; source distribution; soil quality; ecological safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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