Analysis of Benzo[a]Pyrene Contamination from an Long-Term Contaminated Soil

Abstract

Analysis of benzo[a]pyrene contamination from an aged contaminated chernozemic, meadow-chernozemic and alluvial soils under the effect of aerotechnogenic emissions from the Novocherkassk regional power plant have been revealed on the basis of annual monitoring studies from 2008 to 2012. A new ecologically clean highly-effective express-method of subcritical water extraction has been developed for determination of benzo[a]pyrene from soils of the emissions zone. It has been found that the 5-km zone to the northwest and west from the power station, which coincides with the predominant wind directions, is most subjected to contamination by benzo[a]pyrene, with the maximum accumulation at a distance of about 1.6 km from the emissions source. The vertical distribution coefficients of benzo[a]pyrene between the 0-5 cm and 5-20 cm layers closely correlate with the contents of physical clay, clay, organic matter and cation exchange capacity. It has been shown that the content of benzo[a]pyrene in the soil is an indicator of the technogenic pressure impact on the areas, for which the combustion products of hydrocarbon fuel are the major pollutants.