Abstract
Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic pollutants in urban environments. The contamination of PAHs in environment received great attention due to their toxicity and potential carcinogenic properties. The U.S. environmental protection agency (EPA) has identified 16 PAHs as priority pollutants and has divided them into carcinogenic and non–carcinogenic groups. A total of 72 surface soil samples were collected from different areas of Abha city, Aseer, Saudi Arabia during winter and summer 2012. The PAHs were analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detector. Results showed that concentrations of ∑PAHs were ranged from 43.56-1242.17 ng g-1, ∑PAHCARC were ranged from 9.23-811.07 ng g-1, ∑COMB were ranged from 4.43-415.27 ng g-1 and ∑FPAHs were ranged from 15.84-41.68 ng g-1 for all locations during winter. Concentrations of ∑PAHs were ranged from 13.41-89.07 ng g-1, ∑PAHCARC were ranged from 2.18- 22.44 ng g-1, ∑COMB were ranged from 4.46-22.64 ng g-1, and ∑FPAHs were ranged from 1.85-43.99 ng g-1 for all locations during summer. Also, the recorded levels of different forms of PAHs were lower during summer than that recorded during winter.f All locations had concentrations much lower than both of the effective range low (ERL), effective range medium (ERM), threshold effect level (TEL) and probable effect level (PEL) limit. The ratios calculated from soil samples suggest that PAHs in the soils originated from the pyrolytic processes, especially the incomplete combustion of organic materials (combustion fossil fuel, vehicular engine combustion, kerosene, grass, coal and wood combustion). By making a comparison between concentrations of PAHs in Abha soil with that recorded in different areas of the surroundings, the degree of soil contamination by PAHs in our present study was lower than that recorded in other countries soils.
