铁路交通对铁路旁土壤重金属污染的影响——以陇海铁路郑州—圃田段为例

以陇海铁路郑州-圃田段为例,在野外调查、采样和实验室分析的基础上,探讨了铁路交通对周围土壤N i、Pb、Cr、Zn、Cu和Cd六种重金属含量与分布的影响。结果表明,铁路南侧农田土壤六种重金属元素都出现不同程度的富集,最大含量均分布在距铁路路基30m的范围内,随着距离的增加,各重金属元素含量表现出不同的下降趋势。土壤各重金属污染程度的次序为:Zn>Pb>Cd>Cu>Cr>N i。土壤Pb和Zn污染最为严重,近路基处为重度污染,随着距路基距离的增加,由中度污染逐渐变为轻度污染。土壤N i和Cr虽不构成污染,但仍具有明显的铁路影响特征。在距路基10 m范围内为土壤重金属重度污染带,10~100 m范围内为中度污染带,100~500 m范围内为轻度污染带。     

北京东南郊再生水灌区土壤PAHs污染特征

采用Eijkelkamp土壤采样器对北京东南郊再生水灌区进行了3个钻孔剖面采样,同时采集了灌溉用水及地下水样品,并采用气相色谱-质谱联用仪对16种多环芳烃（PAHs）进行定量分析。结果表明,表层土壤中有14种PAHs检出,浓度在0.4-53.1 μg·kg-1之间,∑PAHs平均含量为206.7 μg·kg-1,达到了土壤污染临界值;表层以下PAHs的检出种类和含量显著减少,以中、低环的萘、菲、芴、荧蒽、芘为主,∑PAHs仅占表层的3.8%-12.0%,从剖面PAHs含量变化可以判断,低环PAHs较易迁移,迁移性强弱顺序为萘、芴〉菲〉芘、荧蒽;污灌区表土中PAHs组成与大气降尘接近,但与再生灌区有明显差异,这种差异主要由于灌溉用水不同所造成;再生水灌区表土以下土壤剖面检出的PAHs与再生水中的PAHs一致,说明再生水灌溉是导致土壤剖面PAHs污染的主要原因,同时地下水中检出的PAHs种类也与土壤剖面基本一致,但含量较高,可能是早期污水灌溉所造成。     

土壤中多环芳烃的分布特征及其来源分析

利用气相色谱法分析了南充市10个不同功能区表层土壤中美国环保署规定的16种优控多环芳烃（PAHs）的含量和组分特征,运用同分异构体比率揭示了其污染来源。研究表明,该区土壤中PAHs的含量在9.1～2269.1μg·kg-1之间,而且工业区的残留量大于农业区和居民区的残留量。按PAHs的环数来分,在工业污染区PAHs的含量总的趋势是四环〉二环〉三环〉五环〉六环;农业和居民区二环〉三环〉五环〉四环〉六环。该污染状况与国内外相关研究比较,处于中等污染水平。煤、木材和化石的燃烧是该地区土壤中PAHs污染的主要来源,苯并（a）蒽和菲是主要的超标化合物。     

南京有机污染风险区农田土壤多环芳烃污染状况研究

采集南京地区不同有机污染风险区农田表层土壤,用超快速液相色谱仪检测样品中15种EPA优控的多环芳烃(PAHs)含量。结果表明,被检农田土壤多环芳烃总量分布于306.0~1251.3μg kg~(-1)之间,均值682.0μg kg~(-1),四环以上高环多环芳烃占较大比例(80%)。根据欧洲土壤质量标准,所检土壤样本已达污染水平。不同风险污染区农田土壤PAHs的含量由高至低为:钢铁工业区、有机垃圾处理区、化工工业区及炼油工业区。钢铁工业区附近主要的污染物为荧蒽、芘、屈和苯并[a]蒽,分别占到污染物总量的16%、13%、10%和10%。采用荧蒽/(荧蒽+芘)与茚并[1,2,3-cd]芘/(茚并[1,2,3-cd]芘+苯并[g,h,i]苝)比值对各地污染物来源进行分析,结果发现调查区域的PAHs污染物以燃烧源为主,生物质燃料为主要污染物,部分地区同时有石油燃烧污染。     

某氮肥厂场地土壤PAHs污染特征研究

采用现场采样及室内测试方法对广州某氮肥厂原料车间和油库区土壤中16种优控多环芳烃（PAHs）的含量进行调查研究,分析了EPAHs含量及其组成特征和垂直分布特征,并在此基础上进行了源解析。结果表明,分析样品中∑PAHs范围在10-7795μg·kg,原料车间土壤中的∑PAHs小于油库区土壤中的,菲、芘、荧蒽、并（b）荧蒽、苯并（a）芘为主要污染物;油库土壤0-40cm的样品中16种PAHs均有检出,∑PAHs和单体分布基本一致;原料车间土壤∑PAHs和单体浓度随着地面深度的增加而减少。通过对单组分比值（菲／蒽,荧蒽／芘）的分析可以看出油库区土壤中PAHs来源于石油和燃烧源,而原料车间污染源主要为燃烧源。     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric particulate depositions and urban soils of Moscow,Russia

Purpose

The study was conducted to quantify the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulation in urban soils from different functional areas via atmospheric inputs with particulate matter.

Materials and methods

PAH concentration and pattern were measured in the particulate matter of snow depositions, in the upper layers of artificial soils from densely built-up areas and in the undisturbed natural soils (Umbric Retisols) from green park area. Samples were collected in 2011–2013 at 58 sites with different traffic activities located at the territory of the Eastern Administrative Okrug of Moscow. The soil samples and filters with particulate matter were extracted by pressurized liquid extraction using Dionex ASE200. Clean-up analyses were performed on SPE cartridges filled with silica gel. Concentrations of PAHs were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using an Agilent 1100 System equipped with fluorescent detector.

Results and discussion

Mean values of PAH input with snow particles were 45–57 μg/m² for recreational and residential zones, and 140–264 μg/m² for traffic zones. The samples of depositions from different functional areas showed a similar PAH pattern and consisted primarily of 3–4-ring PAHs. Total PAH concentrations in upper layers of artificial soils showed similar mean values of 1.43–2.21 μg/g for all functional zones. The PAH content in soils from the park area was twofold lower than that from the built-up area (0.34–0.63 μg/g), despite equal levels of atmosphere contamination on these territories. The upper layers of natural soils from recreational and traffic zones showed slight differences in PAH content, though PAH input with snow was fivefold higher in the traffic zone. Compared with airborne depositions, soils contained significant amounts of 5–6-ring PAHs.

Conclusions

A high level of soil PAH contamination in urban areas of Moscow, several orders of magnitude higher than the current PAH input to them from the atmosphere, indicates a lack of direct connection of the PAH pool in soils with this source. The high PAH content in the upper layer of constructed soils can be the result of repeated use of materials subjected to a constant technogenic impact for the production of artificial soils.

     

Heavy Metal Content of Plant Species along Nilüfer Stream in Industrialized Bursa City, Turkey

The Paraíba do Sul river is located in one of the most developed part of Brazil and receives many organic and industrial effluents directly affecting the ichthyofauna. Concentration of four heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb) were determined in two tissues (muscle and gonads) of three abundant fish species from different trophic levels (Oligosarcus hepsetus—carnivore, Geophagus brasiliensis—omnivore and Hypostomus luetkeni—detritivore) between November 2002 and April 2003. The aim was to test the hypothesis that the trophic level and the proximity from impacted areas influence levels of contamination and to assess if these species are indicators of large-scale habitat quality. Levels of heavy metals were detected by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence with Synchrotron Radiation (SR-TXRF) at the Brazilian National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (LNLS). Generally, gonads showed higher metal concentration than muscles, except for Cr. All examined metals, but Cu, exceeded the maximum permitted concentration (mpc) by the Brazilian legislation for human consumption in at least one tissue. O. hepsetus (carnivore) showed the highest contamination levels, followed by G. brasiliensis (omnivore) and H. luetkeni (detritivore). The middle-upper segment, which encompasses large urban areas, showed the highest levels of metal contamination in most cases. O. hepsetus showed the highest levels of contamination in muscles for Pb in the middle-upper river segment (7.98?±?3.73; mpc?=?2.0 μg g^?1) and for Cr in the upper (5.53?±?0.05; mpc?=?0.10 μg g^?1) and middle-upper (4.20?±?0.85; mpc?=?0.10 μg g^?1) segments, which indicates that human population should avoid to consume these fishes species from these segments of the Paraíba do Sul river.     

Characterization and Sources of PAHs and Potentially Toxic Metals in Urban Environments of Sevilla (Southern Spain)

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of PAH contamination and the association of PAHs with metals in urban soil samples from Sevilla (Spain). Fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene) and seven metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) have been evaluated in representative urban soil samples. Forty-one top soils (0–10 cm) under different land use (garden, roadside, riverbank and agricultural allotment) were selected. PAHs from soil samples were extracted by sonication using dichloromethane. The simultaneous quantification of 15 different PAH compounds were carried out by HPLC using multiple wavelength shift in the fluorescence detector. For qualitative analysis a photo diode-array detector was used. Metal (pseudo-total) analysis was carried out by digestion of the soils with aqua regia in microwave oven. The mean concentration of each PAH in urban soils of Sevilla showed a wide range, they are not considered highly contaminated. The results of the sum of 15 PAHs in Sevilla soils are in the range 89.5–4004.2 μg kg^?1, but there seems not to be a correlation between the concentration of PAHs and the land use. Of the 15 PAHs examined, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene were present at the highest concentrations, being the sum of these PAHs about 40% of the total content. Although metal content were not especially high in most soils, there are significant hints of moderate pollution in some particular spots. Such spots are mainly related with some gardens within the historic quarters of the city. The associations among metals and PAHs content in the soil samples was checked by principal components analysis (PCA). The largest values both for ‘urban’ metals (Pb, Cu and Zn) and for PAHs were mainly found in sites close to the historic quarters of the city in which a heavy traffic of motor vehicles is suffered from years.     

小秦岭某金矿区农田土壤重金属污染评价

小秦岭金矿区是中国第二大产金区,金矿开采、选冶活动会将重金属释放到环境中,对土壤环境造成污染。本研究系统采集了133件农田土壤样及邻区非矿业活动区的土壤对照样,结果表明,研究区农田土壤中Hg、Pb、Cd污染明显。以邻区表层土壤重金属含量作为对比评价矿区土壤污染的对比值,除Cr外,Hg、Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn、As累积超标率分别为96.90%、100%、60.10%、12.03%、78.90%、69.17%。Hg、Pb、Cu、Zn、Cd超过国家土壤环境质量二级标准的样本超标率分别为43.16%、12.8%、7.52%、3.01%、2.25%。土壤重金属综合污染指数表明,36.08%的土壤样本受到了轻度以上污染。Hg是农田土壤中最主要的重金属污染物,超标倍数均值为4.71,受Hg污染的农田面积为136.3km2,占到研究区面积的51.76%。土壤污染极其严重,矿区环境污染治理迫在眉睫。     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Content in Contaminated Forest Soils with Different Humus Types

The aim of the study was to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content in different forest humus types. The investigation was carried out in Chrzanów Forest District in southern Poland. Twenty research plots with different humus types (mor and mull) were selected. The samples for analysis were taken after litter horizons removing from a depth of 0–10 cm (from the Of- and Oh-horizon total or A-horizon). pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen content, base cations, acidity, and heavy metal content were determined. In the natural moisture state, the activity of dehydrogenase was determined. The study included the determination of PAH content. The conducted research confirms strong contamination of study soil by PAHs and heavy metals. Our experiment provided evidence that different forest humus types accumulate different PAH amounts. The highest content of PAHs and heavy metals was recorded in mor humus type. The content of PAHs in forest humus horizon depends on the content and quality of soil organic matter. Weaker degradation of hydrocarbons is associated with lower biological activity of soils. The mull humus type showed lower content of PAHs and at the same time the highest biological activity confirmed by high dehydrogenase activity.     

城乡结合带农田土壤多环芳烃空间分布特征及来源解析

为了解城乡结合带农田土壤PAHs的污染特征及分布规律,本文以南京市江宁区周岗镇为例,就该地区表层农田土壤中15种优控PAHs组分的含量、空间分布特征及来源进行了研究。结果表明:有14种PAHs普遍被检出（苊未检出）,以高环（4 ~ 6环）PAHs为主;PAHs总量范围在24.49 ~ 750.04 μg kg?1之间,平均为230.89 μg kg?1,有48.28%的土样受到了污染;与国内其他地区农田土壤相比,研究区PAHs含量处于中低水平;空间趋势面分析表明,14种PAHs在东西和南北方向上呈现出明显的规律增减性;从空间分布格局来看,研究区土壤中14种PAHs含量差异较大,整体呈现由东北向西南递减的趋势,且个别点位存在PAHs的富集现象,存在局部点源污染;采用主成分及多元线性回归分析污染来源,结果显示,研究区PAHs来源主要为煤、生物质燃烧,其次为汽油、柴油燃烧,贡献率分别为71%和29%,这与当地的工业发展水平关系密切。     

乐清湾养殖区表层沉积物重金属含量分布及污染评价

以乐清湾养殖区表层沉积物中Cu等7种重金属为研究对象,在野外实地调查取样及重金属含量测定基础上,以中国海洋沉积物质量(GB18668-2002)一类标准值为评价标准,利用单因子指数评价法、内梅罗综合污染指数评价法和沉积物质量基准(sediment quality guideline,SQG),对单项重金属污染程度、多种重金属综合污染效应及重金属潜在生物毒性风险进行了评价。结果表明,乐清湾养殖区表层沉积物重金属含量分布差别明显,所有采样点表层沉积物均受到Cu污染,局部受到严重Hg污染;大部分养殖区表层沉积物重金属污染达到轻度等级;所有养殖区均可发生由Cu偶尔引起的不利生物毒性效应,个别养殖区可发生由Hg频繁引发的不利生物毒性效应。乐清湾养殖区表层沉积物重金属主要来源于沿岸电镀企业废水排放及农药化肥造成的农业面源污染。开展Cu、Hg污染治理修复是实现乐清湾养殖环境安全的迫切需求。     

土壤重金属潜在生态风险指数法优化研究

  目的  优化潜在生态风险指数评价标准,使其更适用于土壤重金属污染评价。  方法  参考瑞典学者H?kanson的方法,以城口县115件表层土壤中镉（Cd）、铬（Cr）、铜（Cu）、镍（Ni）、铅（Pb）和锌（Zn）等6种重金属为研究对象,基于重金属毒性系数,并结合内梅罗综合污染指数法（P_N）,以期验证潜在生态风险指数（RI）评价标准优化的适用性。  结果  ① 优化了土壤中6种重金属潜在生态风险评价分级体系:RI < 60,60 ≤ RI < 120,120 ≤ RI < 240,240 ≤ RI < 480,RI ≥ 480分别代表轻微、中等、强、很强、极强潜在生态风险。 ② 案例区6种重金属含量均值（算术均值,下同）分别为中国农用地土壤风险筛选值的5.0、0.39、0.52、0.44、0.23和0.76倍。③ 内梅罗污染评价显示,Cd处于重度污染[P_i(Cd) = 5.25],其余重金属处于无污染水平,P_N显示土壤重金属整体处于重度污染（P_N = 3.94）。④潜在生态风险评价结果显示,RI介于22.9 ~ 1582,均值196。优化前,案例区土壤6种重金属处于中等生态风险（优化前分级,150 ≤ RI < 300）,而优化后处于强潜在生态风险。  结论  案例验证研究表明,优化后的潜在生态风险评价分级体系适合土壤重金属污染潜在生态风险评价,能客观反映土壤重金属污染状况。     

Analysis of Organic Micropollutants in Sediment Samples of the Venice Lagoon, Italy

Surface sediment samples were collected at six locations of the Lagoon of Venice reflecting potential different contamination sources and representative of different hydrological situations. Analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), linear alkylbenzenes (LABS) and coprostanol have been carried out by gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) to assess the influence of various pollution sources: urban, industrial and combustion processes. PAHs, PCBs, coprostanol, and LABS showed the highest levels in the sample collected within the city of Venice (Canal Grande) indicating a very heavy contamination due to combustion sources and to the domestic waste waters directly entering the canals of the city. The highest levels of PCDD/PCDFs were found in samples collected near the industrial area of Porto Marghera. The investigation on the PCDD/PCDFs homologue profiles suggested the presence of two different sources for these pollutants, one due to combustion processes and another one due to the chemical processes of Porto Marghera.     

多环芳烃在岩溶区上覆土壤中的垂直迁移及控制因素

选取典型表层岩溶泉域内的土壤剖面为研究对象,分析土壤样品的主要理化指标,并采用气相色谱-质谱联用仪对土壤中的多环芳烃(Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons,PAHs)进行定量分析,研究16种PAHs在土壤剖面中的垂直迁移规律及控制因素。结果表明,所研究的5个土壤剖面中,16种PAHs均被检测出,其多环芳烃含量范围为161～3 285 ng g-1,平均值为987 ng g-1。兰花沟泉域水稻田和水房泉泉域土壤剖面中,PAHs的组成均以低环PAHs为主,后沟泉泉域土壤剖面中以高环PAHs为主,柏树湾泉域马尾松林地和兰花沟泉域马尾松林地土壤剖面中,0～2 cm表层土壤中以高环PAHs为主,2 cm以下土层中以低环PAHs为主。从剖面PAHs含量和组成变化可以判断,低环PAHs较易迁移,但在土层较薄的后沟泉泉域土壤剖面中,由于翻耕等人为的扰动,高环PAHs也较易迁移。5个剖面中,PAHs在水房泉泉域土壤剖面的迁移能力最强。由于岩溶区较薄的土壤层,使得PAHs较易迁移并污染表层岩溶泉水。对土壤理化性质和PAHs总量进行多元回归分析,表明土壤总有机碳(TOC)是控制后沟泉、兰花沟泉和柏树湾泉泉域土壤中PAHs迁移的主要因子,而在水房泉泉域土壤中,无主要影响因子。     

城市土壤多环芳烃的特征和来源解析研究进展

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are mainly produced by combustion processes and consist of a number of toxic compounds.They are always emitted as a mixture and have become a major type of pollutants in urban areas.The degree of soil contamination by PAHs is of special concern in areas immediately in proximity to cities with heavy traffic,factories,older buildings,and infrastructure.The accumulation of soil PAHs is also affected by non-anthropogenic factors,such as climate,vegetation,and soil property.This paper reviews three typical source identification techniques,including diagnostic ratios,positive matrix factorization,and principle conrponents analysis.The advantages or disadvantages of these techniques are analyzed.It is recommended that multiple identification techniques be used to determine the sources in order to minimize the weaknesses inherent in each method and thereby to strengthen the conclusions for PAH source identification.     

One-Hundred-Year Sedimentary Record of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Lake Sediments from Wuhan, Central China

The concentrations and depositional fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in a dated sediment core collected from Donghu Lake, central China. Total concentrations of 16 PAHs ranged from 33.32 to 937.24 ng?g^?1 based on dry weight. Depositional fluxes of total PAHs, ranging 15.84?C387.37 ng?cm^?2?year^?1, were in relatively higher levels compared with those in the cores collected from other areas of China. The concentrations and fluxes of total and individual PAHs changed dramatically with depth, reflecting energy usage changes and closely following the historical economic development in central China. Since the initiation of the ??Reform and Opening-Up policy?? in the late 1970s, the levels of PAHs, especially the high-molecular-weight carcinogenic PAHs, increased rapidly and reached the highest value in recent years, indicating the growth of incomplete combustion of coal and petroleum with the development of economy in this area. Furthermore, analysis of isomer ratios and principle component analysis commonly revealed the main contribution of anthropogenic pyrolytic source to PAH contamination in the largest urban lake of China.     

Distribution of Heavy Metals and Minerals in the Various Size Fractions of Soil from Copșa Mică, România

The Cop?a Mic? area is one of the most polluted anthropic sites in Romania. Because higher heavy metal concentrations occur in finer fractions, this research focuses on the size fraction <?500 μm. Two kilograms soil sample was sieved on the 500-μm sieve and was air classified into size fractions down to the low micrometer range. The size fraction’s composition was investigated by ICP-OES IC, XRD, and FTIR spectrometry. Approximately 80 and 62% of the material was smaller than 2 mm and <?500 μm, respectively. The predominant size fraction had a mass median diameter (MMD) of approximately 75 μm. The smallest size fraction with a MMD of 2.2 μm had a share of 3.6% and contained the highest amount of heavy metals. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Sb, and As exceeded the legally regulated values for soils according to Romanian legislation. The respective concentrations were 26,900, 27,600, 415, 2130, 466, and 915 mg·kg^?1. In the coarser size fractions 5, 4, and 3, the predominant minerals were quartz and alkaline feldspar, while in the finer size fractions 1 and 2, the clay minerals and total carbon (TC) were predominant. Illites and montmorillonites in the fine fraction composition retain heavy metals due to the high levels of cation exchange capacity. Black carbon accumulated in soil acts as a heavy metal adsorbent due to its porosity and high specific surface area. The good correlation between heavy metals and TC in the top soil can be an indicator of the level of heavy metal pollution.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Forest Floors of the Northern Czech Mountains

Forests of the Northern Czech mountains decline due to industrial emissions. To examine the state of soil contamination with PAHs we analyzed the concentrations of 20 PAHs in the O and A horizons of 4 lower and 4 upper slope sites under beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the Western (WE) and the Eastern Erzgebirge (EE, Kru?né Hory), the Isergebirge (IS, Jizerské Hory), and the Riesengebirge (RI, Krkono?e) at microsites affected and not affected by stem flow. Average PAH sum concentrations in the organic layers ranged between 2000 and 30000 μg kg^?1 increasing in the line WE <RI<EE<IS. PAH concentrations were significantly higher at upper than at lower slope sites indicating long-distance transport. Microsites affected by stem flow had significantly higher PAH concentrations but lower percentages of lower molecular PAHs than microsites not affected by stem flow. This was due to the water collecting effect of the beech bark. Lower molecular PAHs preferentially were sorbed to the bark or leached from the organic layers. PAH concentrations increased from Oi to Oa horizons but decreased in the mineral soil. This was the more pronounced the higher the molecular weight was. The slope of the regression line between the enrichment factors (concentration of a single PAH in the Oa divided by that in the Oi horizon) and the octanol-water partition coefficient decreased as the PAH concentration of the soils increased. This indicates that the microbial activity of organic layers may be reduced by soil contamination. Cluster analysis suggested that the sources of the PAH contamination in the WE were different from the other sites.     

Relationship Between Soil Concentrations of PAHs and Their Regional Emission Indices

Actual information on the level of accumulation of PAHs in soils, their inputs/outputs and fate is still unsatisfactory. The regional scale of data collection is important from practical point of view, since decisions regarding environment protection often require proper assessment of soil information aggregated on this level. The objective of the study was to define the regional levels of PAHs in soils and to examine the relationship with the parameters related to their inputs (emission factors) and to natural conditions (soil properties, geographical localisation). The territory of Poland, comprising 16 regions, was chosen as a model area representing the Central/East European countries. The concentrations of 16 PAH compounds were determined in 266 soil samples collected from 0 to 30-cm upper soil layer from agricultural lands. The data were supplemented with basic soil properties. The regional concentrations of Σ16PAHs were within the limits of 125–756 μg kg^?1 (geometric means) and did not exceed the limit values specified in Polish regulations. They complied also with European soil screening values for intermediate or negligible risk. The key variable affecting the accumulation of PAHs in soils was the regional emission of those contaminants, which described soil concentrations of PAHs in at least 50%; the results suggest time-dependent (delayed) reaction of soil environment to the emission changes. The effect was sensitive to PAH compositions in soils and was most pronounced in the case of higher molecular weight compounds (≥4 rings) transported predominantly with atmospheric particles. The regression models, comprising actual regional emission data, did not indicated on the increasing risk of PAHs accumulation in soils. The evaluations based on the regional content of benzo(a)pyrene in soils implied significant discrepancies between Polish and other internationally accepted criteria in soil contamination. The natural factors (soil characteristics and climate) affected the regional PAH concentrations in very small extent.