title: Occurrence, sources, and potential human health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in agricultural soils of the coal production area surrounding Xinzhou, China.
abstract: A comprehensive investigation of the levels, distribution patterns, and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in agricultural soils of the coal production area surrounding Xinzhou, China, was conducted, and the potential human health risks associated with the levels observed were addressed. A total of 247 samples collected from agricultural soils from the area were analyzed for sixteen PAHs, including highly carcinogenic isomers. The PAH concentrations had a range of n.d. to 782ngg(-1), with a mean value of 202ngg(-1). The two-three ring PAHs were the dominant species, making up 60 percent of total PAHs. Compared with the pollution levels and carcinogenic potential risks reported in other studies, the soil PAH concentrations in the study area were in the low to intermediate range. A positive matrix factorization model indicates that coal/biomass combustion, coal and oil combustion, and coke ovens are the primary PAH sources, accounting for 33 percent, 26 percent, and 24 percent of total PAHs, respectively. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations had a range of n.d. to 476ngg(-1) for PAH7c, with a mean value of 34ngg(-1). The BaPeq concentrations of PAH7c accounted for more than 99 percent of the ∑PAH16, which suggests that seven PAHs were major carcinogenic contributors of ∑PAH16. According to the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines, only six of the soil samples had concentrations above the safe BaPeq value of 600ngg(-1); the elevated concentrations observed at these sites can be attributed to coal combustion and industrial activities. Exposure to these soils through direct contact probably poses a significant risk to human health as a result of the carcinogenic effects of PAHs.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Beijing 100012, China.
authors: Long
authors: L
authors: Zhao
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Beijing 100012, China. Electronic address: andhouhong@craes.org.cn.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Hou
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Beijing 100012, China.
authors: Yuxian
authors: Y
authors: Shangguan
authors: Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resource, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 17 Beiyuan Street, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China. Electronic address: chengbin0709@163.com.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Cheng
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Beijing 100012, China.
authors: Yafei
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resource, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 17 Beiyuan Street, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China.
authors: Ruifen
authors: R
authors: Zhao
authors: Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resource, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 17 Beiyuan Street, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China.
authors: Yigong
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resource, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 17 Beiyuan Street, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China.
authors: Xiaozan
authors: X
authors: Hua
authors: Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resource, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 17 Beiyuan Street, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China.
authors: Xiaolan
authors: X
authors: Huo
authors: Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resource, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 17 Beiyuan Street, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China.
authors: Xiufeng
authors: X
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002681:China; D003031:Coal; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D003031:Coal; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Agricultural soil; Human health risk; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model; Toxic equivalency factors (TEFs)