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Effect of input pathways and altitudes on spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background soils, the Tibetan Plateau

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Abstract

Limited data on the spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Tibetan soils have been reported. This study measured the concentrations of PAHs in background soils across Tibet including 44 surface soils (0–10 cm) and 14 subsurface soils (10–20 cm) and assessed the effect of input pathways and altitudes on spatial distribution of PAHs. The concentrations of 15 US EPA priority PAHs (∑15-PAHs, naphthalene excluded) in all surface soils ranged from 1.50 to 29.88 ng/g dry weight with a mean concentration of 6.09 ng/g. The levels of PAHs in soils from southeast of Tibet were higher than those from northwest, which might be attributed to both more local emission as a result of relative higher population density and contributions of long-range atmosphere transport (LRAT) processes from Indian subcontinent in the south and Sichuan in the east. For the northwest Tibet, the westerly wind originated from the western boundaries between India and Nepal but not local emission might play an important role in input of PAHs, since there were slight anthropogenic activities. A general decrease of ∑15-PAHs with depth suggested their atmospheric input, while surface runoff might also play an important role in input of PAHs to soils from canyon and valley. The abundances of more volatile three-ring PAHs positively correlated with altitudes while less volatile ones unrelated (four rings) or inversely correlated (five and six rings) with altitudes, indicating cold condensation effect. The results of PAH isomer ratios suggested mixed sources of petroleum evaporation and combustion of petroleum and biomass.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the funding of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41172316), Shanxi Province Science Foundation for Youths (No. 2011021025-2), and the Research Project Supported by Shanxi Scholarship Council of China (2011080). We gratefully acknowledge the partial supports from the 100 talent program supported by The Organization Department of Shanxi Province Committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Safety, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, China

    Qiusheng He, Guixiang Zhang & Yulong Yan

  2. Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), Center of Urban Air Pollution, South China Institute of Environmental Science (SCIES), Guangzhou, China

    Yiqiang Zhang, Laiguo Chen & Kui Lin

Authors
  1. Qiusheng He
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  2. Guixiang Zhang
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  3. Yulong Yan
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  4. Yiqiang Zhang
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  5. Laiguo Chen
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  6. Kui Lin
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Qiusheng He or Laiguo Chen.

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Responsible editor: Hongwen Sun

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Fig. S1

Correlation analysis of the mean ∑15-PAH in one county with its population and GDP. (DOC 198 kb)

Fig. S2

Backward trajectories (HYSPLIT model) in October (sampling period) and March. (DOC 901 kb)

Fig. S3

PAH cross plots for the ratio BaA/(BaA + CHR) and IcdP/(IcdP + BghiP) vs. FLA/(FLA + PYR) in Xiagze, Ali, Naqu, Lhasa, Linzhi, and Shannan surface soils (0 – 10 cm) of Tibet. (DOC 658 kb)

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He, Q., Zhang, G., Yan, Y. et al. Effect of input pathways and altitudes on spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in background soils, the Tibetan Plateau. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 10890–10901 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4283-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4283-3

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