Persistent Organic Pollutants in Urban Soils of Central London, England, UK: Measurement and Spatial Modelling of Black Carbon (BC), Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)

Vane, Christopher H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8150-3640; Kim, Alexander W.; Beriro, Darren; Cave, Mark R.; Lopes Dos Santos, Raquel A.; Ferreira, Antonio M.P.J.; Collins, Christopher; Lowe, Stephen R.; Nathanail, C. Paul; Moss-Hayes, Vicky. 2021 Persistent Organic Pollutants in Urban Soils of Central London, England, UK: Measurement and Spatial Modelling of Black Carbon (BC), Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB). Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research, 2 (2). https://doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2102012

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2102012

Abstract/Summary

Total organic carbon (TOC), black carbon (BC), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were determined in 73 surface (0-2 cm) and subsurface (5-20 cm) soil samples taken from a 142 km2 area in Central London, UK. Soils were assessed to provide a baseline chemistry for site owners, developers, occupiers and regulators involved in understanding the potential risk to human health and the environment. TOC range was 1.75-11.85 % (mean 5.82 %), BC 3.72-32.71 mg.g-1 (mean 13.8 mg.g-1), TPH 72-4673 mg.g-1 (mean 443 mg.g-1), Σ16PAH 1.64-421.23 mg.g-1 (mean 47.99 mg.g-1) and Σ7PCB 2.56-148.72 µg.kg-1 (mean 20.82 µg.kg-1). Surface soils were less polluted than sub-surface soils due to a decline in industry, power generation, coal burning and traffic. PAH and PCB showed a stronger affinity for BC than TOC and were higher than many other international cities. South east London (Greenwich, Woolwich, Deptford) had the highest PAH pollution. Source PAH ratios confirmed a combustion/urban road run-off origin with minor petroleum inputs. Random Forest spatial modelling (machine learning) revealed large scale pollution trends across London soils. Normal background concentrations (NBC) were calculated and compared to risk-based human health generic assessment criteria (GAC). Benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and dibenzo[a]anthracene exceeded the Land Quality Management GACs for three land uses (residential, allotments and public open space near residential housing). The NBC determined for ∑7PCBs (110 µg.kg-1) and dioxin-like PCB 118 (59 µg.kg-1) exceeded the residential and allotment soil guideline values.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2102012
ISSN:	27666190
Date made live:	09 Jun 2021 12:19 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530488

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2102012

ISSN:

27666190

Date made live:

09 Jun 2021 12:19 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530488