A Preliminary Study on Accumulations and Origins of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban Soils of Istanbul

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one group of the most serious pollutants in urban environment. Concentration of PAHs in urban soils is 10 times higher than that in natural soils. The aim of this study is to give preliminary data on contaminations and the origins of PAHs in soil samples obtained from various towns of Istanbul. Totally 23 top-soil samples collected in main urban areas in seven towns of Istanbul, Turkey in July of 2015. Samples were analyzed for eight PAHs and the total concentrations ranged from 0.12 to 29.4 μg kg-1 for Σ8PAHs. The highest ΣPAHs concentrations were found at roadsides and industrial sites. The ratios of phenanthrene to anthracene and fluoranthene to pyrene were used to identify pyrolytic and petrogenic sources to determine the sources of PAHs. Only all stations of two towns in Istanbul show pyrolytic source. These sources included motor vehicle exhausts, industrial activities and coal burning. These data is a database for further monitoring studies and can be used to assess the health risk associated with soils polluted with PAHs