POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN ARCHIVAL SOIL SAMPLES FROM THE ROTHAMSTED EXPERIMENTAL STATION, HERTFORDSHIRE

Ivwurie W., Emelife S.C., Sun C. and Snape C.

Department of Chemistry,

Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun

ABSTRACT

Seven selected archival soil samples collected from the Rothamsted experimental station, Hertfordshire in the years 1881, 1927, 1937, 1956, 1966, 1980 and 1986 were collected and analyzed for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons using GC-MS. The individual PAH concentrations ranged from 0.1-29 µgg^-1 with a mean concentration of 89.55 µgg^-1 ± 37.15 µgg^-1. The PAH concentration showed a greater percentage of the HMW PAHs, indicating high carcinogenicity especially in the 1986 soil sample. The PAH diagnostic ratio (Flu/(Flu + Py)) showed a predominant contribution from wood and coal combustion.