Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soils of Novi Sad and bank sediment of the Danube River

Abstract

Concentrations of 16 EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface soil samples of Novi Sad city urban area and in the Danube bank sediment sample were measured in 2001. The sampling sites were chosen in order to cover the whole city area and the results correspond to a network of six representative sampling sites. The total content of PAHs ranged from 307 to 1452 μg/kg with arithmetic mean value of 667 μg/kg and median of 382 μg/kg that represented typical PAH level of soils throughout Novi Sad urban area. Value of total PAHs content obtained in bank sediment sample along the Danube River was 975 μg/kg. Benzo(a)pyrene known to be carcinogenic formed 6-14% of the sum concentration of the identified PAHs for all investigated samples. Data were compared with the ones found for soils and river sediments throughout the world, and with target values set by Dutch authorities for unpolluted soil. The total carcinogenic potency for each sampling site was calculated and compared with the ones obtained on the base of the target concentrations. It was revealed only one sampling site with carcinogenic potency below the value calculated for unpolluted soil.