Dynamics of benzo[α]pyrene accumulation in soils under the influence of aerotechnogenic emissions

Abstract

The regularities of benzo[α]pyrene (BaP) accumulation and distribution in chernozems (Haplic Chernozems), meadow-chernozemic soils (Haplic Chernozems (Stagnic)), and alluvial soils (Fluvisols) affected by the aerotechnogenic emissions from the Novocherkasskaya Electric Power Station (NEPS) were studied on the basis of long-term (2002–2011) monitoring data. A 5-km-wide zone stretching to the northwest from the electric power station and coinciding with the predominant wind direction was found to be most contaminated, with the maximum accumulation of BaP at about 1.6 km from the source. The coefficients of vertical BaP distribution between the layers of 0–5 and 5–20 cm closely correlated with the contents of physical clay, clay, and humus, and with the cation exchange capacity. The content of BaP in soils was shown to be indicative of the level of technogenic loads related to the combustion products of hydrocarbon fuels.