Spatial Distribution, Potential Sources, and Health Risk of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Surface Soils under Different Land-Use Covers of Shanxi Province, North China

Li Ji, Wenwen Li, Yuan Li, Qiusheng He (), Yonghong Bi, Minghua Zhang, Guixiang Zhang and Xinming Wang
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Li Ji: School of Environment and Resources, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Wenwen Li: School of Environment and Resources, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Yuan Li: School of Environment and Resources, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Qiusheng He: School of Environment and Resources, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Yonghong Bi: State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
Minghua Zhang: School of Environment and Resources, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Guixiang Zhang: School of Environment and Resources, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Xinming Wang: State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread in the environment and pose a serious threat to the soil ecosystem. In order to better understand the health risks for residents exposed to PAH-contaminated soil, 173 surface soil samples were collected in Shanxi Province, China, to detect the levels of 16 priority PAHs. The spatial distribution patterns of PAHs were explored using interpolation and spatial clustering analysis, and the probable sources of soil PAHs were identified for different land-use covers. The results indicate that the soil Σ16 PAH concentration ranged from 22.12 to 1337.82 ng g − 1 , with a mean of 224.21 ng g − 1 . The soils were weakly to moderately contaminated by high molecular weight PAHs (3–5 ring) and the Taiyuan–Linfen Basin was the most polluted areas. In addition, the concentration of soil PAHs on construction land was higher than that on other land-use covers. Key sources of soil PAHs were related to industrial activities dominated by coal burning, coking, and heavy traffic. Based on the exposure risk assessment of PAHs, more than 10% of the area was revealed to be likely to suffer from high carcinogenic risks for children. The study maps the high-risk distribution of soil PAHs in Shanxi Province and provides PAH pollution reduction strategies for policy makers to prevent adverse health risks to residents.

Keywords: carcinogenic risk; GIS; land-use management; PAHs; spatial pattern (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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