Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in different forest soils: Mineral horizons

verfasst von
Georg Guggenberger, Martin Pichler, Robert Hartmann, Wolfgang Zech
Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the behavior of PAH in mineral soil horizons of different forest soils (Allersdorf, All: Inceptisol, mull humus type; Geisberg, Geis: Entisol, mull; Hohe Matzen, HoM: Spodosol, mor). At the mor site, the highest PAH loading was observed in the forest floor (HoM L to Oh, Σ 20 PAH: 829 g ha-1), whereas at the mull sites the humified mineral soil horizons were the main sink for PAH (All aAxh, Σ 20 PAH: 522 g ha-1). In all soils, there was a significant PAH translocation into subsoil horizons (Σ 20 PAH in the subsoil: 76-195 g ha-1). In order to delineate possible transport mechanisms, double-logarithmic relationships were established between the translocation of the distinct PAH from the surface soil to the subsoil and the PAH's Kow values. The data suggested that transport of low-molecular PAH into the subsoil was primarily a function of the water solubility of each compound. In the biologically active All and Geis soils, high-molecular PAH were translocated independently from their Kow value, and particle-bound transport probably by soil burrowing animals was assumed to control translocation of the penta- and hexacyclic PAH. In contrast, at HoM transfer of high-molecular PAH increased with increasing hydrophobicity, suggesting dissolved organic matter (DOM)-mediated transport of PAH. Fractionation of soil into a floatable fraction and into sand-(20-2000 μm), silt- (2-20 μm), coarse clay- (0.2-2 μm), and fine clay-sized (< 0.2 μm) separates revealed that more than 80% of the PAH loading could be assigned to silt-and coarse clay-sized separates, irrespective of the soil's texture (loamy sand to silty clay loam). Silt generally showed the highest Corg-related PAH concentrations. PAH profiles (relative proportion of each PAH on the sum of 20 PAH) revealed increasing proportions of high-molecular, more refractory PAH from the floatables and the sand-sized separates to the finer particles, corresponding with an increasing degree of SOM alteration in the same direction. At HoM, depth gradients of high-molecular PAH suggested co-transport of penta- and hexacyclic PAH with DOM and subsequent co-sorption selectively to the silt- and coarse-clay sized separates of the Bsh horizon.

Externe Organisation(en)
Universität Bayreuth
Typ
Artikel
Journal
Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenernahrung und Bodenkunde
Band
159
Seiten
565-573
Anzahl der Seiten
9
ISSN
0044-3263
Publikationsdatum
12.1996
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Bodenkunde
Elektronische Version(en)
https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.1996.3581590607 (Zugang: Geschlossen)