Extractability and Bioavailability of PAH from Soil and Air Particulate Matter

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Abstract
The extractability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from soil sediment, sewage sludge and vehicle exhaust particulates by various solvents has been investigated. In all cases toluene was found to be the most efficient solvent, especially in the case of vehicle exhaust, whereas dichloromethane and acetone are less suitable. The availability of PAH adsorbed to soil has been studied by degradation experiments using the soil fungus Mucor circinelloides van Tiegham (Zygomycotina) IMB MC 1.91. The degradation ended in a plateau phase after 14 days, whereas molecular dispersed PAH such as pyrene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene were completely degraded after 31 days in a control experiment.