Search results for "PAH"

Analytical method for PAHs chemical speciation in sediments

2008

The aim of this work is to optimize a method to examine the PAHs chemical speciation during the aging of sediments that is important in order to known the toxicological risk of a polluted area. In particular, we have conducted this research in order to determine if the organic contaminants fate is dependent to sediment characteristics and to study the potential role of humin and alkaline-extractable humic substances in the sequestration of PAHs in sediment. The Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) include molecules containing fused aromatic rings and are of special concern because of their widespread distribution throughout the environment and their often toxic and carcinogenic propertie…

The use of leaves of Olea europaea L. as passive samplers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Assessment of the quality of the air in Palermo

2000

Interest in polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS), both from an analytical and an environmental point of view, arises from the fact that although most of them have absolutely no practical use, they are widely diffused into the environment. Their widespread distribution means that every individue is unwittingly exposed to the action of this class of substances, in working environments, in the home and in the open air. In this paper, Oleae europaea leaves have been used as passive samplers. The correlation obtained clearly shows that the quantitative analysis of PAHs in the Olea leaves permits to evaluate the quality of air, in a determined geographic area, without the need of making long …

Migration of PAHs in the arable layer of flooded soil – model experiment

2014

Soils periodically, or permanently, waterlogged and soils exposed to flood waters are heavily imperilled to pollution of inorganic and organic compounds. They are primarily compounds that are brought with the inflowing (highly loaded) floodwater and indigenously produced within the soil profile by anaerobic metabolism of the organic matter. PAHs compounds are adsorbed by the soil from the floodwaters and move in the soil profile posing a threat to groundwater. In addition, when the flood recedes, these compounds may be taken up by the crops. In this study soil pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from the decomposition of organic matter and silt and their migration…

Assessment of PAHs and total content of organic matter in Landfill Leachate and Groundwater

2006

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii, as a reliable bioindicator, by GCMS

2012

Every year 230.000 tons of PAHs enter the marine environment, resulting ubiquitously distributed worldwide. These compounds are aromatic molecules of special concern because of their toxic and carcinogenic properties. As a consequence of their hydrophobic nature, in aquatic environments, PAHs rapidly tend to associate with particulate matter and sediments represent the most important reservoir. In the present study the level of PAHs in the sessile filter-feeder polychaete Sabella spallanzanii was assessed. In particular, the concentration of PAHs was determined in polychaetes (body and tube) collected from three Sicilian areas, subject to different anthropic pressure. A transplanting experi…

Pelargonium leaves as bioaccumulator of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons: Analysis and evaluation of sources and air quality in Palermo area

2006

The leaves of Pelargonium zonale have been chosen because this plant is widespread in both the Mediterranean metropolitan and peripheral areas. The paper describes the analytical method, and the results concerning the determination of PAHs in Pelargonium leaves collected in the Palermo area, and their possible origins. The GC-MS method was applied, since identification of all the different compounds with spectra libraries is possible. Samples were analyzed for 22 PAHs. The reported analytical method is complete within 2 hours, and more convenient than that of other researches. Total PAH concentrations in leaves varied between 24-357 g/kg d.w. The relative abundance of the analyzed PAHs can …

PAHs associated with the leaves of Quercus ilex L.: Extraction, GC–MS analysis, distribution and sourcesAssessment of air quality in the Palermo (Ita…

2007

Abstract In this study, the leaves of Quercus ilex L. were selected as possible bioaccumulators of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Quercus is an evergreen plant that occurs widely in both urban and rural areas. Several sites (urban roadside, urban, urban park, suburban and rural) in and around Palermo city were investigated. The purpose of this research was to optimize analytical method for quercus leaves, investigate the degree of contamination in the urban area of Palermo by comparing PAH concentration in leaves of quercus from the several sites, establish distribution patterns and relate them to possible sources of PAHs. To this aim, the 16 recommended as priority pollutants by …

Microbes and Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Marine Environment

2020

Marine pollution has increased reaching the entire marine environment, from the surface to the deepest sediment, and has become more concerning in the last 70 years. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a fraction of ocean waste that includes, among the others, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and plastic polymers. These chemicals have an extremely long half-life, and (bio)accumulate and damage the marine flora and fauna, and, ultimately, human health. Some organisms have evolved enzymes to attack POPs in the environment and transform them into biomass and CO2. Several microorganisms degrade many POPs in relatively short time. A wide variety of bacteria has been isolated with dif…

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor dust matter of Palermo (Italy) area: Extraction, GC–MS analysis,distribution and sources

2008

Abstract Studies on indoor pollution are important since people spend more than 80% of their time indoor environments. In this work the method for PAHs analysis in indoor dust (used as passive sampler) and the results relative to samples collected in the area of Palermo are reported. Dust samples for analysis were collected from 45 indoor environments. Total PAHs concentrations in indoor dusts ranged from 36 to 34 453 μg kg −1  d.w. To correlate indoor and outdoor pollution we analyze, also, the particulate matter and PAHs levels samples collected in four stations. The percentage measured in indoor dusts results more low than that found outside. The values of isomeric ratios for the differe…

Pollution of Flooded Arable Soils with Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

2014

Soils that are exposed to floodwaters because of shallow groundwater and periodical wetlands are, to a large extent, exposed to contamination by organic and inorganic compounds. These are mainly compounds that have drifted along with the inflow of heavily laden floodwater and are produced within the soil profile by the anaerobic transformation of organic matter. Heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds are absorbed by the soil of the floodwaters, and moving in the soil profile, they pose a threat to groundwater. What is more, after a flood, they may be absorbed by the crops. This paper focuses on the effects of Odra River (Poland) floods, heavy metals, and PAHs on so…