Pollutants in Hong Kong soils: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

An extensive soil survey was carried out to study the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminations in 138 soil samples collected throughout Hong Kong. Results demonstrated that there were low levels of PAH contaminations (median of summation operator 16US EPA PAHs=140 microg kg(-1)) for all land uses (urban park, greening area, country park, rural area, restored landfill, agricultural farmland, orchard farm, crematorium, industrial and near highway area). However, localized hotspots were identified with summation operator 16PAH concentrations as high as 19,500 microg kg(-1) in one urban park. These findings were also confirmed by multivariate analysis. Comparison of PAH profiles showed a widespread domination of its 4-ring member. The major contribution was vehicular emissions from petroleum, and however at the hotspots, the improper disposal of used motor oils. In general, the pollution levels for all the land uses were below the recommended values for residential and general purposes stated in soil quality guidelines such as Netherlands and Denmark except certain identified hotspots. The potential health hazards imposed by these hotspots were alarming, and their existence (3 out of 138 samples) suggested that sole monitoring of atmospheric PAHs may not adequately address the hidden risks to human in urban city.

[1]  William A. Telliard,et al.  PRIORITY POLLUTANTS I-A PERSPECTIVES VIEW , 1979 .

[2]  D Mackay,et al.  Soil—air exchange model of persistent pesticides in the United States cotton belt , 2001, Environmental toxicology and chemistry.

[3]  M. Zheng,et al.  Characterization of the non-volatile organic compounds in the aerosols of Hong Kong— identification, abundance and origin , 1997 .

[4]  Ian D. Williams,et al.  Characterisation of selected speciated organic compounds associated with particulate matter in London , 2001 .

[5]  C. Gaudet,et al.  Canadian soil quality guidelines , 1999 .

[6]  H. Takada,et al.  Source identification of Malaysian atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons nearby forest fires using molecular and isotopic compositions , 2002 .

[7]  P. Pandey,et al.  Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Need for Assessment of Health Risks in India? Study of An Urban-Industrial Location in India , 1999 .

[8]  A. R. Abdullah.  Environmental pollution in Malaysia: trends and prospects , 1995 .

[9]  Chi Sun Poon,et al.  Heavy metal contamination of urban soils and street dusts in Hong Kong , 2001 .

[10]  T. Korenaga,et al.  Distribution of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Soil of Tokushima, Japan , 2002 .

[11]  S. Chiavarini,et al.  Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban atmospheric particulate matter in the city of Naples (Italy) , 1999 .

[12]  Yoon-Seok Chang,et al.  Effects of forest fire on the level and distribution of PCDD/Fs and PAHs in soil. , 2003, The Science of the total environment.

[13]  P. Krogh,et al.  Relative sensitivity of three terrestrial invertebrate tests to polycyclic aromatic compounds , 2002, Environmental toxicology and chemistry.

[14]  N. R. Khalili,et al.  PAH source fingerprints for coke ovens, diesel and, gasoline engines, highway tunnels, and wood combustion emissions , 1995 .

[15]  S. Guoying,et al.  Organochlorinated Compounds in Waters of the Pearl River Delta Region , 1997 .

[16]  M. Trapido.  Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Estonian soil : contamination and profiles , 1999 .

[17]  W. Amelung,et al.  Persistent organic pollutants in native grassland soils along a climosequence in North America. , 2000 .

[18]  N. M. Tahir,et al.  Concentrations of PAHs in atmospheric particles (PM-10) and roadside soil particles collected in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia , 2002 .

[19]  S. R. Wild,et al.  Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the United Kingdom environment: a preliminary source inventory and budget. , 1995, Environmental pollution.