PERSISTENCE AND FATE OF ANTHRACENE AND BENZO(A)PYRENE IN MUNICIPAL SLUDGE TREATED SOIL

Greenhouse studies using pots and microcosms were conducted to investi gate the persistence and fate of nonlabeled and C-14-labeled anthracen e (ANT) and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) in sludge treated soil. Results ind icated that ANT degraded rapidly (t(1/2) approximate to 3 wk) from the experimental systems, but that B(a)P was persistent. Cropping did not affect the persistence of either compound. On completion of the exper iments (less than or equal to 21 wk), less than or equal to 10% of the ANT added to soil was recovered intact, whereas 78% of the B(a)P adde d to soil was recovered intact. Most (greater than or equal to 85%) of the C-14 added to soil as labeled ANT and B(a)P was accounted for. Re coveries of (CO2)-C-14 indicated significant mineralization of ANT, bu t not of B(a)P. Trivial amounts (less than or equal to 0.2%) of C-14 w ere recovered as volatile organics and in plant materials, but large a mounts were recovered from soil. A considerable proportion of the ANT derived C-14 in soil was not extracted with acetone/hexane, which indi cated that it had been converted to bound residue. A much smaller prop ortion of B(a)P than of ANT derived C-14 in soil was converted to boun d residue. No evidence was obtained for uptake of intact ANT or B(a)P by ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ], and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.).