PAHs in the soils of a mature, mixed-deciduous (Quercus-Fraxinus) woodlandand the surrounding pasture

Citation
M. Howsam et al., PAHs in the soils of a mature, mixed-deciduous (Quercus-Fraxinus) woodlandand the surrounding pasture, WATER A S P, 121(1-4), 2000, pp. 379-398
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
ISSN journal
00496979 → ACNP
Volume
121
Issue
1-4
Year of publication
2000
Pages
379 - 398
Database
ISI
SICI code
0049-6979(200007)121:1-4<379:PITSOA>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
A survey of PAHs in the soils of a mature, mixed-deciduous woodland and the surrounding pasture was conducted along two transects. PAH 'profiles' were not significantly different in the woodland soil compared with the pasture . Sigma PAH concentrations in the woodland soil were significantly higher t han soil from the surrounding pasture by a factor of 1.5-3 (P < 0.01), indi cating enhanced deposition of PAHs to the soil under the canopy via leaf li tter, stemflow and/or through-fall. A deposition 'edge effect' was only obs erved at the windward edge of the canopy where the number and density of ae rial and basal stems was highest (P < 0.05). The influence of predominant w est/south-westerly winds was observable in the lack of an edge effect at th e leeward edges, and the higher Sigma PAH concentrations in the predominant ly leeward pasture compared to the windward pasture (P < 0.05).