Vu Duc Toan, Do Thi Lan Chi and Ngo Tra Mai
Abstract
Seasonal variation and human health risk assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in in soils from a mangrove area (Dong Rui area), northern Vietnam were investigated. Four campaigns of soil sampling were implemented in the period from January 2015 to July 2016. Wide occurrence of PAHs contamination in Dong Rui was detected. In summer and winter seasons, total concentrations of ïï±ï¶ï PAHs ranged from 396.75 to 1761.70 μg kg-1 dw (mean 868.86 ± 444.52 μg kg-1 dw) and from 362.45 to 1663.05 μg kg-1 dw (mean 818.73 ± 425.59 μg kg-1 dw), respectively. Significant seasonal variations in PAHs concentrations were observed with higher levels during summer season period. PAHs diagnostic ratios indicated that the main sources of PAHs in Dong Rui were mixed sources of traffic and industrial sources. The total cancer risk (CR) of PAHs in the soil of Dong Rui fell into very low range suggesting low risk. However, since PAHs were the species of persistent organic pollutants with more concern in this area, therefore, ecological risk assessment should be further investigated.