Contamination,source identification,and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in agricultural soils around a typical coking plant in Shandong,China

Coking is one of the most important emission sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in China. Investigation of the contamination, distribution, and sources of PAHs in agricultural soils around Rong Xin coking plant, China, was conducted, and the potential human health risks were addressed. The total concentration of the 16 PAHs (∑₁₆PAHs) on the United States Environmental Protection Agency priority list had a range from 1774 to 4621 µg/kg (mean 3016 µg/kg). Meanwhile, seven carcinogenic PAHs (∑PAH_7c) owned the total concentrations of 684–2105 µg/kg, and they had the benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaP_eq) concentrations at 139.616–1672.850 µg/kg. All soil samples were dominated by PAHs with two to four rings. Data analyses for the potential sources of PAHs showed that the PAHs in soils were principally from pyrogenic sources. Ecological risk assessment of soil PAHs showed that the BaP_eq concentrations of ∑PAH_7c accounted for 99% of the total ∑₁₆PAHs, being a major carcinogenic contributors of ∑₁₆PAHs. Higher levels of PAHs and higher total BaP_eq concentrations in this study indicate a potential carcinogenic risk for humans. Therefore, long-term exposure to coking plants may increase the PAH concentrations in the environment and further raise a potential risk to human health.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Road-Deposited Sediments and Roadside Soil in Tijuana,Mexico

Road-deposited sediment and roadside soil in the urban area of the city of Tijuana were collected and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The ΣPAH concentration for road-deposited sediment (RDS) ranged between 460 and 2027 µg/kg with an average of 933 µg/kg. The ΣPAH concentration in roadside soil was lower than in RDS, with a range between 54 and 1863 µg/kg and a mean value of 308 µg/kg. The diagnostic ratios showed that the PAHs originated mostly from pyrogenic sources such as gasoline and diesel combustion. The results show that PAH concentration in RDS and roadside soils is low when compared with other published studies. The low PAH levels found in this study are possibly related to differences in climate, urban features, and anthropogenic activities conducted in the studied areas. The toxicity equivalent concentrations (TEQ) of PAH calculated were also low in comparison with other studies. This is probably due to the lower concentration of total PAHs and the highly toxic high-molecular-weight PAHs.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Profiles of Some Brands of Canned Fish in the Nigerian Market

Concentrations and profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in selected popular brands of canned fish (mackerel, sardine, and tuna) consumed in Nigeria with a view to providing information on the health risk associated with consumption of these products. The concentrations of PAHs were measured by gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) after dichloromethane/hexane extraction and clean-up. The concentrations of Σ16 PAHs in these brands of canned fish varied from 174.6 to 350.8 μg/kg, 187.4 to 592.5 μg/kg, and 204 to 264.6 μg/kg for mackerel, sardine, and tuna, respectively. Benzo(a)pyrene was detected in 48% of the investigated brands at concentrations higher than the maximum tolerable limit of 5 μg/kg. The daily intake of PAHs from the consumption of any brand of these canned fish ranged from not detected (nd) to 54.3 ng BaP/kg bw/day, nd to 56.4 ng PAH2/kg bw/day, nd to 86.4 ng PAH4/kg bw/day, and nd to 153.7 ng PAH8/kg bw/day. The estimated margin of exposure (MOE) values (BaP-MOE, PAH2-MOE, PAH4-MOE, and PAH8-MOE) in a significant proportion of the brands was less than 10,000, which indicates a potential health risk for the consumers of these brands of canned fish.     

The uptake of persistent organic pollutants by plants

In a field experiment, the transfer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated soil to maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), poplar (Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii) and willow (Salix × smithiana) and the distribution of PCB congeners in maize and sunflower was investigated. The former waste incinerator in Hradec Králové (Czech Republic) was chosen for the experiment. Results of plot screening showed heterogenous contamination by PCBs and PAHs. PCB soil contamination was evidently caused by Delor 106 or Aroclor 1260 stocking and PAH contamination by chemicals containing fluoranthene, benzo/b/fluoranthene, phenanthrene and pyrene. Tested plants were planted on a contaminated field site, in soil contaminated with 1530 μg/kg of total PCBs and 0.138 and 3.42 mg/kg of total PAHs. The results show that maize and sunflower roots accumulated the most PCBs from soil. These plants accumulated hexa- and heptachlorobiphenyl congeners more than tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyl congeners. Total concentrations of PAHs in tested plants ranged from 0.096 to 1.34 mg/kg. The highest phenanthrene concentration was found in aboveground biomass of sunflower and the highest concentration of pyrene, in maize roots.     

Estimation of Excess Cancer Risk on Time-Weighted Lifetime Average Daily Intake of PAHs from Food Ingestion

The purposes of this study were to quantify the time-weighted, lifetime average, daily intake (LADI) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through food ingestion and to estimate the excess cancer risk based on lifetime dietary PAH intake. Twenty-seven different food commodities were selected from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition survey based on their frequent consumption and high PAH level. The foods were analyzed for the profile of 14 PAH congeners using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence detector. Considering the toxic equivalent (TEQ) level converted with the toxic equivalent factors (TEFs), the highest total TEQ level of PAHs in foods was detected from roasted laver at 1.2 ug TEQ/kg. For the PAH exposure assessment according to ingested foods, the average body weight was separated according to the following age groups, 1–6, 7–19, 20–64 and over 64 years, and the daily food ingestion rates from the National Health and Nutrition survey were used. The estimated Lifetime Average Daily Intake (LADI) of PAHs was 3.22 × 10^–3 ug/kg/day for carcinogenic effects and was higher in the younger age groups under 20 years old than in the older groups. The dietary excess cancer risk estimated using the cancer potency of benzo(a)pyrene (7.3(mg/kg/day)^?1) was 2.3 × 10^?5, which is equivalent to a probability of tumor eruption in the upper gastrointestinal tract of two per hundred thousand persons.     

Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Trace Metals in New Orleans Soils and Sediments

Soil and sediment samples from New Orleans have been collected and analyzed for contamination by 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 8 trace metals. Total PAH contents were found to vary from 40 μ g/kg to 40,000 μ g/kg, and concentrations of total metals varied in the range of 80 mg/kg and 7600 mg/kg. Source analysis of PAHs using diagnostic concentration ratios such as phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/ pyrene indicated that PAHs found at elevated concentrations in New Orleans soils and sediments were of pyrolytic origins. Spearman rank bivariate correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between soil PAHs and metals (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001) and between sediment PAHs and metals (r = 0.62, p < 0.05), suggesting common pollution sources for the two groups of environmental pollutants. Strong correlations were also found between Pb and Zn in soils (r = 0.93, p < 0.0001) as well as in sediments (r = 0.65, p < 0.05).     

Levels,Sources, and Toxic Potential of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Soil of Delhi,India

This study was done to determine the concentration of PAHs in urban soil of Delhi (India). Surface top soil (up to 10 cm depth) samples were collected from four different sampling sites including industrial, roadside, residential, and agricultural areas of Delhi and 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were evaluated. Total PAH concentrations at industrial, roadside, residential, and agricultural sites were 11.46 ± 8.39, 6.96 ± 4.82, 2.12 ± 1.12, and 1.55 ± 1.07 mg/kg (dry weight), respectively, with 3–7 times greater concentrations in industrial and roadside soils than that in residential and agricultural soils. The PAH pattern was dominated by 4- and 5-ring PAHs (contributing >50% to the total PAHs) at industrial and roadside sites with greater concentration of fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene, and pyrene, whereas, residential and agricultural sites showed a predominance of low molecular weight 2- and 3-ring PAHs (fluoranthene, acenaphthene, naphthalene, chrysene, and anthracene). Isomeric pair ratios suggested biomass combustion and fossil fuel emissions as the main sources of PAHs. The toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) showed that carcinogenic potency (benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent concentration (B[a]P_eq) of PAH load in industrial and roadside soils was ～10 and ～6 times greater than the agricultural soil.     

Human health risk assessment and source diagnosis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the corn and agricultural soils along main roadside in Changchun,China

This work was to investigate distribution characteristics, human health risk assessment, and possible sources of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in corn and surface soils of farmlands along main roadside in Changchun City, Jilin Province, China. Total concentrations of 16 PAHs ranged from 1572.4 to 4390.2 µg/kg with a mean value of 2954.9 µg/kg in soils and from 219.9 to 627 µg/kg with a mean value of 362µg/kg in corn. Light-molecular-weight PAHs (2–3 rings) concentration was dominant in soils, accounting for 51%, whereas high-molecular-weight PAHs (5–6 rings) concentration was highest in corn, accounting for 48%. The results of plant concentration factor indicated that high-molecular-weight PAHs have greater mobility. To evaluate potential risk to human health, hazard index (HI) and risk index (RI) were employed. The values of HI for corn and soils were both smaller than 1, indicating that exposure of PAHs posed no or little potential risk to local residents. The fact that values of RI for corn and soils were smaller than 1 × 10^–4 suggested that exposure of PAHs posed no or little cancer risk to local residents. The possible sources of PAHs in corn and soils were both identified as mixture patterns of pyrogenic and petrogenic sources.     

Distribution and Association Form of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediments from Tokyo Bay

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), including fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)-anthracene, chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene (benzo(e)pyrene), dibenzo(a,h)anthracene and benzo(ghi)perylene, were identified and determined in sediments from Tokyo Bay. Their concentrations were proved to be in a range from several tens to several hundreds µg/kg of dry samples. This seems to suggest that the smaller are the average particle sizes of sediments and the higher are the total amounts of PAH concentrations.

Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between the following pairs: total amount of PAH vs. clay content; total amount of PAH vs. the sum of (clay + silt) contents; total amount of PAH vs. ignition loss. In addition, significant positive correlations were statistically found between ignition loss and clay content as well as the sum of (clay + silt) contents.     

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish from the Red Sea Coast of Yemen

A detailed analytical study using combined normal phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish from the Red Sea was undertaken. This investigation involves a preliminary assessment of the sixteen parent compounds issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA). The study revealed measurable levels of Σ PAHs (the sum of three to five or six ring parent compounds) (49.2 ng g⁻¹ dry weight) and total PAHs (all PAH detected) (422.1 ng g⁻¹ dry weight) in edible muscle of fishes collected from the Red Sea. These concentrations are within the range of values reported for other comparable regions of the world. Mean concentrations for individual parent PAH in fish muscles were; naphthalene 19.5, biphenyl 4.6, acenaphthylene 1.0, acenaphthene 1.2, fluorene 5.5, phenanthrene 14.0, anthracene 0.8, fluoranthene 1.5, pyrene 1.8, benz(a)anthracene 0.4, chrysene 1.9, benzo(b)fluoranthene 0.5, benzo(k)fluoranthene 0.5, benzo(e)pyrene 0.9, benzo(a)pyrene 0.5, perylene 0.2, and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene 0.1 ng g⁻¹ dry weight respectively. The Red Sea fish extracts exhibit the low molecular weight aromatics as well as the discernible alkyl-substituted species of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene. Thus, it was suggested that the most probable source of PAHs is oil contamination originating from spillages and/or heavy ship traffic. It was concluded that the presence of PAHs in the fish muscles is not responsible for the reported fish kill phenomenon. However, the high concentrations of carcinogenic chrysene encountered in these fishes should be considered seriously as it is hazardous to human health. Based on fish consumption by Yemeni‘s population it was calculated that the daily intake of total carcinogens were 0.15 μg/person/day. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in milk samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

This paper describes a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in milk samples. The method involves a liquid-liquid extraction procedure after saponification of milk samples with sodium hydroxide. Reproducible determination with highly sensitive detection was attained by HPLC with fluorescence detection using 1,2-bis(9-anthryl)ethane as an internal standard. The detection limits of 12 kinds of PAHs ranged from 1.3 to 76 ng/kg milk at a signal/noise ratio of 3. By the proposed method, the presence of 12 and 11 kinds of PAHs could be confirmed in commercial milk and human milk samples, respectively. The average concentrations of total PAHs (mean+/-SD, micro g/kg) were found to be 0.99+/-0.37 for commercial milk (n=14), 2.01+/-0.30 for infant formula (n=3) and 0.75+/-0.47 for human milk (n=51). High correlation coefficients between the concentrations of total PAHs and triglyceride were observed for commercial milk (r=0.659) and human milk (r=0.645).     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Pollution in Agricultural Soil in Tianjin,China

Representative soil samples (n = 60) collected from suburban agricultural land in Tianjin were analyzed to determine 16 PAHs in this study. Accelerated solvent extraction, GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography), and SPE (Solid Phase Extraction) clean-up procedures were employed for PAH preparation prior to analysis with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The concentrations of the total PAHs (T-PAHs) ranged from 228.6 ng/g to 14722.1 ng/g with the mean value of 613.1 ng/g. Bap concentrations in many sites exceeded the suggested standards. Spatial variation of PAHs in soil was illustrated; the pollution status and comparison to other cities were also investigated. Severe PAH soil pollution was observed in some sites near urban areas. Higher PAH concentrations were detected at the downwind side of the urban areas, indicating the influence of human activities. Two indicative ratios (Fl/(Fl+Pyr, Baa/(Baa+Chr)) and principal component analysis were used to identify the possible sources of PAHs. These suggested that coal combustion was still the most important source of PAHs in Tianjin, which coincided well with the previous studies. These data can be further used to assess the health risk associated with soils polluted by PAHs and can help local government find proper ways to reduce PAHs’ pollution in soils.     

Emission Estimates of Particulate PAHs from Biomass Fuels Used in Delhi,India

The emission factors for particulate-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were evaluated for various biomass fuels (fuelwood, dung cakes, and agricultural residue) that are being commonly used in Delhi as a source of energy. Emission factors of total particulate PAHs varied from 35.9 ± 1.9 to 59.7 ± 4.4 mg/kg. Higher levels of total PAHs and particulate matter (PM) were found from dung cakes as compared to fuelwood and agricultural residue. The emission factors for PM from dung cake, fuelwood, and agricultural residue are 25 ± 8, 15 ± 3.2, and 12.1 ± 9.4 g/kg, respectively. The total PAH emissions showed an increase with high particulate matter emission rates and lower combustion efficiency. Fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene constituted the major fraction of PAH emissions from all biomass fuels. The annual budget estimates (total emissions per year) for PAHs and PM from biomass fuels used in Delhi are 30.5 ± 2.3 Mg (Megagrams) and 11.6 ± 4.4 Gg (Gigagrams), respectively. An attempt has also been made to evaluate the preliminary budget estimates of PAHs and PM emitted from the use of biomass fuels as a source of energy in India by using the emission factors obtained in the present study.     

Concentrations,Source and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils from Midway Atoll,North Pacific Ocean

This study was designed to determine concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil samples collected from Midway Atoll and evaluate their potential risks to human health. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs ranged from 3.55 to 3200 µg kg⁻¹ with a mean concentration of 198 µg kg⁻¹. Higher molecular weight PAHs (4–6 ring PAHs) dominated the PAH profiles, accounting for 83.3% of total PAH mass. PAH diagnostic ratio analysis indicated that primary sources of PAHs in Midway Atoll could be combustion. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration (BaP_eq) in most of the study area (86.5%) was less than 40 µg kg⁻¹ BaP_eq and total incremental lifetime cancer risks of PAHs ranged from 1.00×10⁻¹⁰ to 9.20×10⁻⁶ with a median value of 1.24×10⁻⁷, indicating a minor carcinogenic risk of PAHs in Midway Atoll.     

Distribution patterns of selected PAHs in bulk peat and corresponding humic acids from a Swiss ombrotrophic bog profile

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.     

Background levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and selected metals in new England urban soils

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are byproducts of combustion and are ubiquitous in the urban environment They are also present in industrial chemical wastes, such as coal tar, petroleum refinery sludges, waste oils and fuels, and wood‐treating residues. Thus, PAHs are chemicals of concern at many waste sites. Risk assessment methods will yield risk‐based cleanup levels for PAHs that range from 0.1 to 0.7 mg/kg. Given their universal presence in the urban environment, it is important to compare risk‐based cleanup levels with typical urban background levels before utilizing unrealistically low cleanup targets. However, little data exist on PAH levels in urban, nonindustrial soils. In this study, 60 samples of surficial soils from urban locations in three New England cities were analyzed for PAH compounds. In addition, all samples were analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and seven metals. The upper 95% confidence interval on the mean was 3 mg/kg for benzo(a)pyrene toxic equivalents, 12 mg/kg for total potentially carcinogenic PAH, and 25 mg/kg for total PAH. The upper 95% confidence interval was 373 mg/kg for TPH, which exceeds the target level of 100 mg/kg used by many state regulatory agencies. Metal concentrations were similar to published background levels for all metals except lead. The upper 95% confidence interval for lead was 737 mg/kg in Boston, 463 mg/kg in Providence, and 378 mg/kg in Springfield.     

Risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from a mixed-use reservoir

Although reservoirs in China are of great significance, very few studies on risk assessment have been reported for reservoirs. This study investigated distribution characteristics, cancer and ecological risks, and source diagnosis of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from Shitou Koumen Reservoir in Jilin Province, China. A total of 12 sediment samples were collected from the reservoir in August (wet season) 2014. Total PAH concentrations in sediment samples ranged from 1294.51 ng/g to 2755.35 ng/g with a mean concentration of 1757.54 ng/g. For individual PAHs, average concentration of Nap was the highest, 800.56 ng/g, while Acy, Fla, BkF, and DahA were undetected in sediment samples. Light PAHs (2–3 rings) accounting for 74.21% was a dominant PAH compositional pattern. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out; results showed that total PAHs was strongly correlated with the highly enriched sedimentary PAHs, and pH was a major factor in controlling PAH distribution. Lifetime cancer risk was employed to assess cancer risk; results indicated that the fish-culturing area was exposed to cancer risk. The molecular diagnostic ratios of isomeric PAHs were applied to identify possible PAH sources; primary PAH sources were identified as oil-related activities, burning agricultural wastes, vehicular emissions, and industrial discharges.     

Distribution and ecological risks of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface sediment of the Forcados River,Niger Delta,Nigeria

Concentrations of Σ15 PCBs in sediments of the Forcados River, Nigeria, were determined in 2012 to provide information on the profile, sources and ecotoxicological risks of PCBs in the sediment. The screening concentrations of PCBs were quantified using a gas chromatograph equipped with a Ni-63 electron capture detector. The concentrations of the Σ15 PCBs ranged from 2.7 to 202.3 µg kg???1 with a mean concentration of 46.5 µg kg???1. The composition of PCB congeners was clearly dominated by octa-PCBs, hepta-PCBs and hexa-PCBs, constituting 68.1% to 93.7%, respectively, of the total amounts of PCBs. All sites had Σ15 PCB levels below the prescribed probable effect concentrations, and therefore no adverse effects are expected for the majority of sediment-dwelling organisms of the Forcados River system.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalic acid esters in the soil-radish (Raphanus sativus) system with sewage sludge and compost application

We studied the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in a latosolic red soil and radish (Raphanus sativus) with application of sewage sludge at rates of 10, 20 and 40 g kg(-1) soil or compost at rate of 10 g kg(-1) soil. In radish the concentrations of individual PAHs and PAEs varied from non-detectable to 803 microg kg(-1) dry weight (d.w.) and from non-detectable to 2048 microg kg(-1) d.w., respectively. Compared to the control, higher application rates of sewage sludge resulted in pronounced increases in shoot, root and soil concentrations of PAHs and PAEs. PAE concentrations in radish grown in soil spiked with sludge compost were higher while the PAH concentrations were comparable to those receiving 10 g kg(-1) of sewage sludge. However, the root biomass of radish in soil amended with compost was significantly higher and the shoot-to-root ratio was significantly lower than in the other treatments. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs, the ratio of contaminant concentration in plant tissue to the soil concentration) of di-n-butyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in both shoots and roots and of total PAH concentrations in roots were less than 1.0, but some BCFs for individual PAHs were high with a maximum value of 80.     

Accumulation,Allocation, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Soil-Brassica chinensis System

Farmland soil and leafy vegetables accumulate more polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in suburban sites. In this study, 13 sampling areas were selected from vegetable fields in the outskirts of Xi’an, the largest city in northwestern China. The similarity of PAH composition in soil and vegetation was investigated through principal components analysis and redundancy analysis (RDA), rather than discrimination of PAH congeners from various sources. The toxic equivalent quantity of PAHs in soil ranged from 7 to 202 μg/kg d.w., with an average of 41 μg/kg d.w., which exceeded the agricultural/horticultural soil acceptance criteria for New Zealand. However, the cancer risk level posed by combined direct ingestion, dermal contact, inhalation of soil particles, and inhalation of surface soil vapor met the rigorous international criteria (1×10⁻⁶). The concentration of total PAHs was (1052±73) μg/kg d.w. in vegetation (mean±standard error). The cancer risks posed by ingestion of vegetation ranged from 2×10⁻⁵ to 2×10⁻⁴ with an average of 1.66×10⁻⁴, which was higher than international excess lifetime risk limits for carcinogens (1×10⁻⁴). The geochemical indices indicated that the PAHs in soil and vegetables were mainly from vehicle and crude oil combustion. Both the total PAHs in vegetation and bioconcentration factor for total PAHs (the ratio of total PAHs in vegetation to total PAHs in soil) increased with increasing pH as well as decreasing sand in soil. The total variation in distribution of PAHs in vegetation explained by those in soil reached 98% in RDA, which was statistically significant based on Monte Carlo permutation. Common pollution source and notable effects of soil contamination on vegetation would result in highly similar distribution of PAHs in soil and vegetation.