Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in snow dump site sediments : a pilot study to assess and characterize PAH species retained in snow dump site sediments

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a ubiquitous class of environmental micropollutants produced by combustion processes. They are commonly produced in urban areas by vehicles and from road dust. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has included 16 PAHs (PAH16) on their list of Priority Pollutants. During the winter in northern climates PAHs may be entrained with urban snow and removed to snow disposal sites or snow dumps. The fate of PAHs in snow dumps is not well understood. This study attempts to determine if PAH16 species are retained within snow dump site soils. Four snow dump sites and four control sites were selected in the Lahti region of South Central Finland. Soil samples were collected from each site and tested by GC-MS to determine which PAH16 species were present and their concentrations. All 16 PAHs were detected in the dump sites. Statistically significant differences were found between the dump and control sites in the observed concentrations of 13 of PAH16 species.