Source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in soil samples from the UK by stable carbon isotope ratios measurement

Abstract

The¹³C/¹²C isotopic ratios of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHCs) for soil samples collected and preserved from contact with any other source(s) of PAHs except atmospheric, between the years 1865 and 1986 in the United Kingdom, were determined, in order to understand PAHs source apportionment within the period. Isotopic compositions results obtained suggest that PAHs between 1865 and 1881 samples originated predominantly from biomass combustion. However, isotopic compositions of soil samples studied for the years 1944 to 1986 showed variations corresponding to new PAHs inputs, suspected to originate from coal. 
 
Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, soil, isotope ratios, biomass, coal

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(3): 289-295, 2010