Abstract

BARRAN-BERDON, Ana Lilia et al. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils from a brick manufacturing location in central Mexico. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.4, pp.277-288. ISSN 0188-4999.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment and may have natural or anthropogenic origin. Most environmental PAHs are products of incompletecombustion or pyrolysis of fossil fuels and can be introduced into the soil via atmospheric deposition. PAHs are relevant for public health and the environment due to their possible carcinogenic, mutagenic characteristics, and their harmful influence on soil organisms and plants. In this study, the levels and composition of 13 PAHs in 46 soil samples from San Nicolás, a brick manufacturing community in central México were analyzed. Total concentrations of PAHs ranged from 7 ng/g to 1384 ng/g with an average value of 220 ng/g. The most abundant PAH was naphthalene (Nap) followed by fluorene (Fl), crysene (Chr), benzo[a]anthracene (BaA) and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DahA). When comparing PAHs levels in soil with Mexican and USA regulations, it was found that around the 52 % and 76 % of soils of San Nicolás had PAHs levels higher than those considered normal or not dangerous for residential use based on either of the aforementioned regulations. Moreover, total benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations in soils of San Nicolás were higher than the maximum acceptableconcentrations established by Canada in 40-60 % of soils. Of special concern was the high amount of DahA and BaP, two PAHs with a high carcinogenic potential. All these factors implied a potential cancer risk to exposed population in San Nicolás.

Keywords : brick kilns; high pressure liquid chromatography; urban soil.

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