Aug 2026· VNU Journal of Science Natural Sciences and Technology· 0 citations· 34 references
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), notably unsubstituted and methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs and Me-PAHs), are a group of organic pollutants consisting of two or more fused aromatic rings. They are primarily generated through the incomplete combustion of organic materials and exhibit high toxicity, bioaccumulation potential, and various adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. The contamination status and distribution characteristics of PAHs and Me-PAHs have been investigated through several case studies in various aquatic ecosystems across Vietnam. However, information about the analytical chemistry and environmental occurrence of PACs in Vietnamese water and sediment samples has not been comprehensively reviewed. Analytical procedures for PAHs in water and sediment typically comprise three main steps: solvent extraction, extract purification, and quantification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). PAHs have been frequently detected in Vietnamese water and sediment samples at low to moderate concentration levels. Low-molecular-weight PAHs (LMW-PAHs, 2 to 3 rings) are dominant compounds in water, while high-molecular-weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs, 4 rings or more) tend to accumulate in sediment. Pyrogenic sources are estimated to be more abundant than petrogenic sources. The urbanization process and waste processing activities are major contributors to the emission of PAHs and their derivatives. Additional comprehensive and continuous studies on the analysis and assessment of PACs in Vietnamese aquatic environment are needed.
This study evaluated the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil, water, and edible plants within cashew nut processing clusters in Enugu, Nigeria. Following liquid–liquid and solid–liquid extractions, the concentration of sixteen PAHs congeners were determined using gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC‐FID). To predict the potential sources of these PAHs, a diagnostic ratio guide was employed and principal component analysis was performed. Mutagenic equivalent concentration, human health risk assessment, and ecological risk assessment were performed. The identified PAHs had concentration range: 786.31–2589.46 µg/kg in soil, 33.78–5476.37 µg/L in water, and 561.47–3047.84 µg/kg in vegetables. Except for one location, the vegetables had higher levels of low molecular weight PAHs, while high molecular weight PAHs were more prevalent in the water. The results showed that the studied location has a fair amount of PAH pollution, mostly from pyrogenic sources though the source apportionment models predicted multi‐sources. The ecological risk assessment indicated acenaphthene to be the most contributing contaminant while the health risk evaluations indicated that consumers of water and vegetables from this area may have risk for non‐carcinogenic health problems. There were substantial mutagenic equivalent quantities, and BaP metabolites were probably responsible. The study reveals that inefficient burning of biomass and fossil fuels has resulted in significant levels of PAH contamination in the surrounding cashew nut processing clusters, and these activities should be controlled.
Edidiong S. Akwaowo, H. Abugu, J. Ihedioha· CLEAN - Soil, Air, Water· 0 citations
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons occurrence in the environment has been of great concern
due to its toxicity to living organisms and the ecosystem. This present study assessed the
contamination level of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the soil around Umuahia
municipality, Abia State. Soil samples were analyzed for the presence of the 16 US-EPA
priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) components, their concentrations. Soil
samples were collected at five different locations at a depth of 0-30cm. The identification and
quantification of the PAHs in the soil samples was carried out using the Aligent 7890B Gas
Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID). The physicochemical parameters
of the soil samples were also analyzed using the American Standards of Testing and
Materials (ASTM) standard methods. The results of the analysis revealed that amongst the 16
US-EPA priority PAHs, eight (8) were detected in the soil samples. The total concentration of
the PAHs detected in the study area were in this order: the order of fluorene>
benzo(a)anthracene> pyrene>dibenzo(a,h)anthracene> anthracene> benzo{ghi}perylene>
indeno{1,2,3-cd}pyrene> acenaphthene with total concentrations of 10.64mg/kg,
10.16mg/kg, 2.784mg/kg, 9.37mg/kg, 9.01mg/kg, 7.51mg/kg, 5.32mg/kg and 0.443mg/kg >
0.21mg/kg respectively. The study area was found to be contaminated with PAHs with more
HMW PAHs (4-ringed) than LMW PAHs (3-ringed PAHs). PAH diagnostic ratio showed
possible sources of PAHs to be pyrogenic, petrogenic and petroleum combustion.
Jamiu B. Kazeem· Research Journal of Pure Sci...· 0 citations
The open burning system of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal releases varying concentrations of emissions into the atmosphere. One of such, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere have been documented to be a threat to humans. This study assessed the concentration of the ambient air PAHs in a MSW dumpsite at Egbedi, Osun State. A polyurethane foam (PUF) passive sampler was installed in 10 locations for 28 days to trap PAHs. The PAH results were subjected to a toxicity equivalence (TEQ), sources were identified by employing the existing diagnostic ratios, and inhalation dosage was investigated using the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Assessment (ELCR). The summation of the carcinogenic PAHs and the highest toxicity equivalence for rain and dry seasons were 0.241 µg/m3 and 0.369 µg/m3, and 0.070 and 0.110, respectively. The analysis revealed that the PAHs were mainly from the combustion of MSW. The ELCR values were (9.1 × 10–4) and (5.8 × 10–4), which were above the acceptable carcinogenic risk level of 1.0 × 10–6. The concentration of PAHs released is at a carcinogenic level and the TEQ and diagnostic ratio show that the emission source is from certain wastes. The PCA score plot showed a single cluster that was close to the center, indicating that the burning of MSW was the only source of emissions from the study location that added to the majority of the PAHs in the surrounding atmosphere. There is an urgent need to develop the dumpsite into a standard landfill.
O. Fadipe, Saheed Adekunle Adewale, O. B. Okedere et al.· Discover Environment· 0 citations
This study assessed the seasonal variability of physicochemical conditions and selected organic pollutants in the Sitnica River, Kosovo, under contrasting hydrological conditions. Surface water samples were collected from 15 monitoring stations during a high-flow campaign in February/March 2023 and a low-flow campaign in September 2023. The investigated pollutants included organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), BTEX compounds, and chlorobenzenes. Physicochemical parameters indicated stronger anthropogenic pressure during the low-flow period, with increased organic load, nutrients, ionic content, and suspended solids. Organic pollutants were detected during both campaigns, but their seasonal behav - ior differed among contaminant groups. Total PCB concentrations were significantly higher during the high-flow campaign (p = 0.004), suggesting hydrological mobilization or resuspension of particle-associated residues. In contrast, total BTEX concentrations were significantly higher during the low-flow campaign (p = 0.005), indicat - ing stronger recent local inputs under reduced dilution conditions. OCPs, PAHs, and chlorobenzenes showed pro - nounced spatial variability, with localized peaks rather than uniform seasonal trends. Screening-level comparison with European environmental quality standards indicated that selected legacy pesticides, PAHs, benzene, pen - tachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene, and trichlorobenzenes reached concentrations of potential environmental concern at specific stations. These findings confirm the coexistence of legacy and recent contamination signals in the Sitnica River and demonstrate that hydrological conditions influence pollutant transport, redistribution, and detectability. The study provides baseline information for seasonal monitoring, source identification, and risk-oriented management of organic pollution in the Kosovo Plain.
Aferdita Camaj Isa, A. Nuro, Arieta Camaj Ibrahimi· Journal of Ecological Engine...· 0 citations
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of organic pollutants affecting the environment as well as individual health that has been linked to various diseases including cancer. Detection is focused on PAHs themselves for environmental analysis, and on urinary metabolites for human exposure assessment. Laboratory‐based detection methodologies such as liquid or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry have been established for more than 30 years and significantly improved over the years in terms of sensitivity and throughput. Outside of a laboratory environment, sensing close to the point‐of‐care could enable quick and simple analysis for routine testing, and various bio‐ and chemosensors utilizing different transducer designs have been developed to address this issue. This narrative review reports the state of the art in sensing PAHs and their metabolites, discussing laboratory‐based techniques before focusing on techniques that promise to enable in‐situ use at the point‐of‐care and in environmental settings.
Martin Konrad, Jeroen A. J. Vanoirbeek, Patrick H. Wagner et al.· Physica Status Solidi (a)· 0 citations
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitrated and oxygenated derivatives (NPAHs, OPAHs) are semivolatile air pollutants which may re-volatilise following atmospheric deposition to soil. Here, we determined polycyclic aromatic compounds' (PACs) concentrations in air, topsoil and air equilibrated with soil at a rural grassland site and a boreal forest site. The samples were analysed by GC-MS/MS and the flux was studied by fugacity calculations and a micrometeorological flux-gradient method. In soil at the boreal site, OPAH and NPAH contributed much higher fractions to PAC contamination of air and soil than at the rural site, reflecting the conversion of primary PACs during transport from sources. The same number of PACs in soil have reached equilibrium concentration with air, despite one site being in a polluted and PAC source region and the other in a much less polluted and PAC receptor region. The direction of air-soil exchange was found insensitive to the modest day-night temperature variation at both sites. Upward diffusive flux was observed for one PAH, triphenylene, at the rural grassland site, and for three 3-ring PAHs and naphthaldehyde at the boreal forest site. There, emission fluxes were quantified and ranged 0.5-12 ng m-2 h-1. The results indicate that low molecular weight PAH secondary emissions in a receptor region may be of same order of magnitude as domestic primary emissions.
G. Lammel, Dominika Bezdeková, J. Martiník et al.· Journal of Hazardous Materia...· 0 citations
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