Effect of traffic on the soil contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Abstract

The level of the environment pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is mainly in correlation with degree of the region industrialization and the traffic density. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exhaust gases of gasoline and diesel motors on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulation in the soil, along the main road M-21. Soil samples were collected from seven localities, at two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm). The method used for PAHs determination was gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The obtained results showed that PAH concentrations, mainly originating from diesel motors, were lower than 1 mg/kg soil. Concentrations of phenanthrene, benzo(a)anthracene and benzo(b)fluoranthene were elevated at all chosen localities and at depths of 0-40 cm.