Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in urban environments: Concentrations and joint risks in surface soils with diverse land uses

• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.3456
• Publication Date: 2019-10-15T23:00:32Z
• Authors: Chunhui Wang; Junxiao Wang; Shenglu Zhou; Junhong Tang; Zhenyi Jia; Liang Ge; Yan Li; Shaohua Wu
• Keywords: Deposition

Abstract Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs) are abundant around cities, few researchers have studied the complex concentrations joint risks of these pollutants in urban surface soils containing diverse land uses. We collected 69 soil samples from roadside districts, green belts, public space, commercial residential district areas Nanjing, China to determine concentrations, distributions, deposition patterns, PAH HM contaminants. No significant differences were found among five uses, but a wide range levels as uses similar pollution sources. As persistently generate high by gasoline/diesel engine or coal combustion, distribution characteristics indicated that centers city most heavily contaminated sites. The distributions black carbon HMs, except for Pb, be significantly correlated. Except Cd As, also showed no differences, possibly stemming non‐point source study areas. Factor analysis 46.2% elevated pollutant resulted combustion processes, 24.3% caused natural background fluctuations, 11.9% non‐combustion processes. PAHs presented low carcinogenic risks. Cd, Cu, Zn depicted acceptable total non‐carcinogenic all uses; however, associated with HMs possessed detailed differences.