Concentration and Spatial Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Roadside Soils, Shanghai

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants that may lead to mutagenesis, carcinogenesis or teratogenesis. Vehicular traffic pollution is one of the important sources for PAHs in soils. Concentrations of 19 PAHs were detected in soils along nine roads in Shanghai by automatic Soxhlet extraction and high performance liquid chromatography. Concentration and spatial distribution of PAHs in surface soils beside nine target roads in Shanghai were investigated and a preliminary migration regularity of PAHs was proposed based on data analysis of Cheting Highway (NO.320 Chinese National Highway). The result showed that the total concentrations of PAHs in the target roadside soils ranged from undetectable to 34.6 mu/g-dw, with a mean of 7.77 mu/g-dw. In comparison with the level of PAHs in urban or suburban roadside soils, the results showed significantly that Sigma PAHs concentration in roadside soils inside industrial areas was higher. The study on the migration regularity of PAHs in soils along roads demonstrated that surface runoff had a more significant effect on the PAHs transportation than air-borne transportation.