Abstract
An ombrotrophic peat core was collected in
2005 from Etang de la Gruère, Jura Mountains,
Switzerland. The concentrations of nine among the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency priority polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (i.e., acenaphthene,
phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, fluoranthene,
benzo[jbk]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]
perylene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) were determined
in both bulk peat and corresponding humic
acids (HA) samples by gas chromatography equipped
with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). The
maximum PAHs concentrations in peat (around
1,250 μg Σ PAHs kg−1 dry matter) were found at
28–30 cm of depth, which correspond to ca. 1920–
1930, when coal inputs to Switzerland reached their
maximum level. Amongst the nine PAHs analyzed in
the peat samples, pyrene (Pyr) was the predominant
species, accounting for ca. 20–100% of the total
PAHs throughout the profile. In the HA fraction, that
represents 24.7% (average value) of the bulk peat,
only phenanthrene (Phe), and sporadically Pyr and
fluoranthene (Fth), were detected. In particular, HA
showed Phe concentrations that were ten–150 times
higher than corresponding bulk peat samples, thus
suggesting its preservation against biodegradation due
to the incorporation into HA molecules.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 35-45 |
Numero di pagine | 11 |
Rivista | Plant and Soil |
Volume | 315 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2009 |
Keywords
- humic acids
- pah
- peat