title: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soil across the Tibetan Plateau: spatial distribution, source and air-soil exchange.
abstract: There are limited data on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in both the atmosphere and soil of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Concentrations of PAHs were therefore measured in 13 XAD resin-based passive air samplers and 41 surface (0-5 cm) soil samples across the TP. The average concentration of atmospheric PAHs was 5.55 ng/m(3), which was lower than that reported for other background areas, but higher than the Arctic. Concentrations in the soils fell in a wide range from 5.54 to 389 ng/g, with an average of 59.9 ng/g. Elevation was found to play an important role in determining the spatial distribution of soil PAHs. The air-soil exchange state showed that the soils of the TP will likely remain as a sink for high molecular weight PAHs, but may become a potential "secondary source" for low molecular weight PAHs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Chuanfei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Tandong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D018609:Tibet
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Air–soil exchange; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Tibetan Plateau