Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fuel-oil contaminated soils, Antarctica

Where fuel oil spins have occurred on Antarctic soils polycyclic aromatic h ydrocarbons (PAH) may accumulate. Surface and subsurface soil samples were collected from fuel spill sites up to 30 years old, and from nearby control sites, and analysed for the 16 PAHs on the USEPA priority pollutants list, as well as for two methyl substituted naphthalenes, 1-methylnaphthalene an d 2-methylnaphthalene. PAH levels ranged from 41-8105 ng gl of dried soil i n the samples from contaminated sites and were below detection limits in co ntrol site samples. PAH were detected in surface soils and had migrated to lower depths in the contaminated soil. The predominant PAH detected were na phthalene and its methyl derivatives. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.