Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons sources in petroleum contaminated soils of Bushehr province

The presence of organic compounds polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment and especially in soil has been one of the greatest concerns due to their health implications. In this paper, the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were measured in 105 soil samples collected from north and south petroleum contaminated (NPC and SPC) areas of Bushehr province. The total PAHs concentrations were 4.92-1035.03 and 1.21-2209.68 mg/kg in N and SPC soils. The mean carcinogenic PAHs concentration was higher in NPC (39.38mg/kg)) compared with SPC soils (4.8mg/kg). The average abundance order of different PAH ring compounds in N and SPC soils is 3rings> 4 rings> 5+6 rings> 2rings. To access petroleum and combustion inputs to the N and SPC soils of Bushehr province, The ratios such as Ant/Ant+Phe, Fla/Fla+Pyr and BaA/BaA + Chrys were quantified as means of discriminating PAH sources. The values of the Ant/ (Ant+Phe) ratio, indicating that the PAHs in the 96.3% and 91.2% for N and SPC soils originated from incomplete biomass combustion and mixed sources, respectively. The ratio of Fla/ (Fla+Pyr) indicates liquid fossil fuel (e.g. vehicle and crude oil) and petroleum pollution for 18.52 and 7.41% of NPC soil samples, respectively. This results show input petroleum for 19.6% of SPC soil samples

Keywords:

PAHs , Soil , Source , Bushehr , Iran