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The source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the topsoil in Xiaodian sewage irrigation area, North of China

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Abstract

31 topsoil samples were collected by grid method in Xiaodian sewage irrigation area, Taiyuan City, North of China. The concentrations of 16 kinds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrum. Generally speaking, the distribution order of PAHs in the area is: those with five and six rings > those with four rings > those with two and three rings. Source apportionment shows a significant zonation of the source of PAHs: the civil coal pollution occurred in the north part, the local and far factory pollution happened in the middle area and the mixed pollution sources from coal and wood combustion, automotive emission, presented in the south area. The distribution of PAHs has a definite relationship with the sewage water flow and soil adsorption. The related coefficient between PAHs and physicochemical property showed there was a negative correlation between pH, silt, clay and PAHs while there was a positive correlation between total organic carbon, sand and PAHs.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40830748 and No. 41372255). The authors thank Zhao Xu, Xiang Qingqing, Li Feng, Liu Yuan, Liu Lian, Tao Zhihao for their help in sampling and sample treatment, thank Chen Wei, Song Qi for their assistance in GC-MS analysis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Jia-Le Li, Yan-Xin Wang, Yi-Hui Dong, Bin Du & Xiao-Ping Liao

  2. State Key Lab of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Jia-Le Li, Yan-Xin Wang, Cai-Xiang Zhang, Yi-Hui Dong, Bin Du & Xiao-Ping Liao

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  1. Jia-Le Li
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  2. Yan-Xin Wang
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Correspondence to Yan-Xin Wang.

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Li, JL., Wang, YX., Zhang, CX. et al. The source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the topsoil in Xiaodian sewage irrigation area, North of China. Ecotoxicology 23, 1943–1950 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1328-1

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