Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Estonian soil: contamination and profiles

The distribution and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soil as well as PAH profiles have been investigated in areas with different anthropogenic pollution such as the city of Tallinn, the towns of Pärnu and Kohtla-Järve and some rural areas. PAH were identified in 147 soil samples (0–10 cm upper layer) collected in September 1996. The typical Σ PAH level in Estonian rural soil is about 100 μg/kg dry weight. PAH concentrations in Tallinn, Pärnu and Kohtla-Järve soil were quite high (the mean Σ PAH concentrations were 2240, 7665 and 12 390 μg/kg dry weight, respectively). The dominant PAH in soil samples were pyrene, triphenylene and fluoranthene. 3–4 ring PAH and 5–6 ring PAH ratio altered from 5:1 to 1.7:1.