Assessment of Health Risks from Agricultural Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Across Different Land-Use Categories of Bangladesh

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a matter of deep concern as they pose significant environmental and health hazards due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxic effects. In soils, PAHs accumulate, contaminating ecosystems, entering food chains, and posing threats to plant and huma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sumaya Sharmin, Qingyue Wang, Md. Rezwanul Islam, Weiqian Wang, Yanyan Wang, Christian Ebere Enyoh, Md. Sohel Rana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/56
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841549449637134336
author Sumaya Sharmin
Qingyue Wang
Md. Rezwanul Islam
Weiqian Wang
Yanyan Wang
Christian Ebere Enyoh
Md. Sohel Rana
author_facet Sumaya Sharmin
Qingyue Wang
Md. Rezwanul Islam
Weiqian Wang
Yanyan Wang
Christian Ebere Enyoh
Md. Sohel Rana
author_sort Sumaya Sharmin
collection DOAJ
description Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a matter of deep concern as they pose significant environmental and health hazards due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxic effects. In soils, PAHs accumulate, contaminating ecosystems, entering food chains, and posing threats to plant and human health. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of PAH contamination in agricultural soils (particle size < 20 µm) across various land-use categories and depths to determine contamination levels and associated health risks, as such comprehensive studies are very rare in Bangladesh. Soil samples were investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The findings revealed that the concentrations of ∑16PAH ranged from 299 to 1928 µg/kg, with the lowest levels observed in research areas and the highest in industrial soils. Concentration trends were as follows: industrial areas > coastal areas > local market areas > rural areas > research areas. Higher concentrations were noted for individual PAHs such as Nap, Phe, BbF, and BkF (313.14 µg/kg ± 62.01 to 546.97 µg/kg ± 146.76), while the lowest concentrations were recorded for BghiP, DBahA, and Ind (1.25 µg/kg ± 1.10 to 5.74 µg/kg ± 3.77). PAH levels were highest in surface soils, following a depth sequence of 0–5 cm > 5–10 cm > 10–15cm. The results also showed that low-, intermediate-, and high-molecular-weight PAHs comprised 46.06–83.18%, 16.47–48.68%, and 0.23–6.51% of total PAHs, respectively. The source of PAHs was identified as integration of pyrogenic petrogenic. Children were found to have higher exposure through ingestion compared to adults, with lower exposure through inhalation and dermal pathways. The total incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for children ranged from 2.03 × 10<sup>−8</sup> to 9.07 × 10<sup>−7</sup>, and for adults from 1.96 × 10<sup>−8</sup> to 8.04 × 10<sup>−7</sup>. Both groups exhibited no carcinogenic risk, as per the USEPA threshold. These findings underscore the need for ongoing monitoring and management strategies to mitigate PAH contamination in agricultural soils, thus protecting environmental and public health concerns.
format Article
id doaj-art-798da85698c7442e9fe671c1d106436a
institution Kabale University
issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-798da85698c7442e9fe671c1d106436a2025-01-10T13:14:17ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-011515610.3390/app15010056Assessment of Health Risks from Agricultural Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Across Different Land-Use Categories of BangladeshSumaya Sharmin0Qingyue Wang1Md. Rezwanul Islam2Weiqian Wang3Yanyan Wang4Christian Ebere Enyoh5Md. Sohel Rana6Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo–Okubo, Sakura–ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo–Okubo, Sakura–ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo–Okubo, Sakura–ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo–Okubo, Sakura–ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo–Okubo, Sakura–ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo–Okubo, Sakura–ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo–Okubo, Sakura–ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a matter of deep concern as they pose significant environmental and health hazards due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxic effects. In soils, PAHs accumulate, contaminating ecosystems, entering food chains, and posing threats to plant and human health. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of PAH contamination in agricultural soils (particle size < 20 µm) across various land-use categories and depths to determine contamination levels and associated health risks, as such comprehensive studies are very rare in Bangladesh. Soil samples were investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The findings revealed that the concentrations of ∑16PAH ranged from 299 to 1928 µg/kg, with the lowest levels observed in research areas and the highest in industrial soils. Concentration trends were as follows: industrial areas > coastal areas > local market areas > rural areas > research areas. Higher concentrations were noted for individual PAHs such as Nap, Phe, BbF, and BkF (313.14 µg/kg ± 62.01 to 546.97 µg/kg ± 146.76), while the lowest concentrations were recorded for BghiP, DBahA, and Ind (1.25 µg/kg ± 1.10 to 5.74 µg/kg ± 3.77). PAH levels were highest in surface soils, following a depth sequence of 0–5 cm > 5–10 cm > 10–15cm. The results also showed that low-, intermediate-, and high-molecular-weight PAHs comprised 46.06–83.18%, 16.47–48.68%, and 0.23–6.51% of total PAHs, respectively. The source of PAHs was identified as integration of pyrogenic petrogenic. Children were found to have higher exposure through ingestion compared to adults, with lower exposure through inhalation and dermal pathways. The total incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for children ranged from 2.03 × 10<sup>−8</sup> to 9.07 × 10<sup>−7</sup>, and for adults from 1.96 × 10<sup>−8</sup> to 8.04 × 10<sup>−7</sup>. Both groups exhibited no carcinogenic risk, as per the USEPA threshold. These findings underscore the need for ongoing monitoring and management strategies to mitigate PAH contamination in agricultural soils, thus protecting environmental and public health concerns.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/56PAHssoil layeragricultural soilsland-use categorieshealth risk
spellingShingle Sumaya Sharmin
Qingyue Wang
Md. Rezwanul Islam
Weiqian Wang
Yanyan Wang
Christian Ebere Enyoh
Md. Sohel Rana
Assessment of Health Risks from Agricultural Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Across Different Land-Use Categories of Bangladesh
Applied Sciences
PAHs
soil layer
agricultural soils
land-use categories
health risk
title Assessment of Health Risks from Agricultural Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Across Different Land-Use Categories of Bangladesh
title_full Assessment of Health Risks from Agricultural Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Across Different Land-Use Categories of Bangladesh
title_fullStr Assessment of Health Risks from Agricultural Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Across Different Land-Use Categories of Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Health Risks from Agricultural Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Across Different Land-Use Categories of Bangladesh
title_short Assessment of Health Risks from Agricultural Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Across Different Land-Use Categories of Bangladesh
title_sort assessment of health risks from agricultural soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pahs across different land use categories of bangladesh
topic PAHs
soil layer
agricultural soils
land-use categories
health risk
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/56
work_keys_str_mv AT sumayasharmin assessmentofhealthrisksfromagriculturalsoilscontaminatedwithpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonspahsacrossdifferentlandusecategoriesofbangladesh
AT qingyuewang assessmentofhealthrisksfromagriculturalsoilscontaminatedwithpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonspahsacrossdifferentlandusecategoriesofbangladesh
AT mdrezwanulislam assessmentofhealthrisksfromagriculturalsoilscontaminatedwithpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonspahsacrossdifferentlandusecategoriesofbangladesh
AT weiqianwang assessmentofhealthrisksfromagriculturalsoilscontaminatedwithpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonspahsacrossdifferentlandusecategoriesofbangladesh
AT yanyanwang assessmentofhealthrisksfromagriculturalsoilscontaminatedwithpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonspahsacrossdifferentlandusecategoriesofbangladesh
AT christianebereenyoh assessmentofhealthrisksfromagriculturalsoilscontaminatedwithpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonspahsacrossdifferentlandusecategoriesofbangladesh
AT mdsohelrana assessmentofhealthrisksfromagriculturalsoilscontaminatedwithpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonspahsacrossdifferentlandusecategoriesofbangladesh