INDUROT and Environmental Technology, Biotechnology and Geochemistry Group Campus de Mieres, Universidad de Oviedo, 33600, Mieres, Spain.
INDUROT and Environmental Technology, Biotechnology and Geochemistry Group Campus de Mieres, Universidad de Oviedo, 33600, Mieres, Spain.
Environ Pollut. 2020 Nov;266(Pt 1):115341. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115341. Epub 2020 Aug 12.
Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a hazardous compound for human health and for environmental compartments. Its transfer and deposition through the atmosphere affects soil quality. In this context, we quantified the content of BaP and other Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soils of a prominent Coal Region in Transition to test whether the soil screening levels in force are realistic and whether they reflect the complexity of regions closely linked to heavy industries and mining. In this regard, soil screening levels are thresholds often established without considering historical anthropogenic activities that affect soil (diffuse pollution). The 150 soil samples studied showed a notable content of high molecular weight PAHs, and BaP surpassed the threshold levels in practically the entire area. PAH-parent diagrams revealed a relatively homogenous fingerprint of four clusters obtained in a multivariate statistical study. In addition, molecular diagnostic ratios pointed to coal combustion as the main pollution source, whereas only some outliers appeared to be related to specific spills. A BaP threshold was calculated to be 0.24 mg kg, over 10 times the limit established in Spain. Finally, a factor analysis revealed a positive correlation of BaP with elements usually emitted in coal combustion processes, such as Tl and V. This observation fosters the hypothesis of a historical and indelible pollution fingerprint in soils whose sources, characteristics and potential environmental and health concerns deserve further attention. All things considered, caution should be taken when using soil screening levels in regions associated with coal exploitation and heavy industry.
苯并[a]芘（BaP）对人类健康和环境构成危害。它通过大气的传输和沉积会影响土壤质量。在此背景下，我们对转型期著名煤炭区的土壤中 BaP 和其他多环芳烃（PAHs）的含量进行了量化，以测试现行的土壤筛选标准是否现实，以及它们是否反映了与重工业和采矿业密切相关地区的复杂性。在这方面，土壤筛选标准通常是在不考虑影响土壤（弥散性污染）的历史人为活动的情况下建立的。研究的 150 个土壤样本显示出高分子量 PAHs 的含量相当高，而且 BaP 在几乎整个地区都超过了阈值水平。多变量统计研究中获得的 PAH-母体图揭示了四个聚类相对同质的指纹图谱。此外，分子诊断比表明煤炭燃烧是主要的污染源，而只有一些异常值似乎与特定的溢出物有关。计算得出的 BaP 阈值为 0.24mg/kg，是西班牙设定限值的 10 倍以上。最后，因子分析显示 BaP 与通常在煤炭燃烧过程中排放的元素如 Tl 和 V 呈正相关。这一观察结果支持了这样一种假设，即在其来源、特征以及潜在的环境和健康问题值得进一步关注的土壤中存在历史遗留且难以磨灭的污染特征。综上所述，在与煤炭开采和重工业相关的地区使用土壤筛选标准时应谨慎行事。
