RT Journal Article
T1 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations and spatial distribution in the soils of Santiago de Compostela (northwestern Spain)
A1 Paradelo Núñez, Remigio
A1 Celeiro Montero, María
A1 Herbón Allo, Cecilia
A1 Barral Silva, María Teresa
A1 García Jares, Carmen María
K1 PAHs
K1 Priority pollutants
K1 Urban soil
K1 Benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent
AB Organic pollutants are commonly accumulated in urban soils, interfering with the normal functions of soils and ecosystems, and representing potential risks for human health and well-being. Here we have studied the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 55 soils from the city of Santiago de Compostela (Spain). The soils include different land uses: urban grasslands, urban forests, urban and periurban agricultural soils. Sample preparation was carried out by miniaturized ultrasound-assisted extraction and analytical determination was performed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results revealed the presence in the soils of 17 out of the 18 PAHs analyzed, with total concentration levels up to μg g−1 in 28% of the analyzed soils. The sum of their concentrations varied widely, between 4 and 4728 ng g−1, with a mean value of 508 ng g−1 (median 217 ng g−1). The sum of the 16 EPA PAHs ranged from 4 to 4216 ng g−1, with a median of 193 ng g−1. The values found are similar to other similar-sized cities with low population densities. The study of PAHs distribution with depth in one soil showed that these compounds are mainly concentrated in the top 20 cm. Spatial distribution was very heterogeneous and without a clear pattern. In general, all PAHs were strongly intercorrelated except naphthalene, whereas no correlations have been found to soil physicochemical properties. Strong correlation of PAHs with Pb was observed, suggesting a common major source for these pollutants, probably combustion by traffic and households.
PB Elsevier
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/37544
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/37544
LA eng
NO This research has been funded by the Xunta de Galicia regional government (grant numbers ED431F 2018/04 and ED431 2020/06). Dr. Paradelo thanks the Spanish State Agency for Research (AEI) for his Ramón y Cajal grant RYC-2016-19,286, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future”.
DS Minerva
RD 28 abr 2026