Polychlorinated biphenyls in vegetable soils from Changchun, Northeast China: Concentrations, distribution, sources and human health risks

ABSTRACT

To investigate the occurrences of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in suburban vegetable soils of Changchun area, Northeast China, 106 urban vegetable soil samples were collected from Changchun City, Nongan County, Dehui City, Yushu City, Jiutai City, Shuangyang District. We analyzed the concentrations, compositions and sources of 7 PCBs in top soils of Changchun area, and evaluated the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk of PCBs pollution to exposed population. The total concentrations of 7 PCBs ranged from 1.31 to 148 ng/g dry weight (dw) with a mean value of 42.0 ng/g and dominated by Hepta-CBs and Penta-CBs. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that PCB pollution in soils of Changchun area mainly related to transportation, vehicle emissions, paints and other industries. Human health risk assessment showed that the cumulative non-carcinogenic and the cumulative carcinogenic risk in children and adults in the industrial land and residential land were acceptable, considering only 7 PCBs homologues were analyzed in this study, the actual risk could be higher.

KEYWORDS:

• polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• risk assessment
• vegetable soils
• source identification

Funding

The authors are grateful for the grants from “One-Three-Five” Strategic Planning Principles of Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGA-135–08), National Natural Science Foundation of China (41701372), and Research Foundation for Talents of Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecolgy, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y6H1211001).