Availability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to earthworms in urban soils and its implications for risk assessment

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Cachada, A (Author) Other; Coelho, C (Author) Other; Gavina, A (Author) Other; Dias, AC (Author) Other; Patinha, C (Author) Other; Reis, AP (Author) Other; Ferreira da Silva, EF (Author) Other; Duarte, AC (Author) Other; Ruth Pereira (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Chemosphere

Vol. 191

Pages: 196-203

ISSN: 0045-6535

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 12 Citations

Scopus - 14 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-4F4

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.013

Abstract (EN): Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a global problem, and in urban soils they can be found at potentially hazard levels. Nevertheless, the real risks that these contaminants pose to the environment are not well known, since the bioavailability of PAHs in urban soils has been poorly studied. Therefore, the bioavailability of PAHs in some selected urban soils from Lisbon (Portugal) was evaluated. Moreover, the applicability of a first screening phase based on total contents of PAHs was assessed. Results show that bioavailability of PAHs is reduced (low levels in earthworms, low accumulation percentages, and low biota-to-soil accumulation factors values), especially in more contaminated soils. The aging of these compounds explains this low availability, and confirms the generally accepted assumption that accumulation of PAHs in urban areas is mostly related with a long-term deposition of contaminated particles. The comparison of measured PAHs concentrations in earthworm tissues with the ones predicted based on theoretical models, reinforce that risks based on total levels are overestimated, but it can be a good initial approach for urban soils. This study also highlights the need of more reliable ecotoxicological data.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8