Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon uptake by carrots grown in sludge-amended soil

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1992.00472425002100020010x· OSTI ID:6994715

Wild, S R; Jones, K C ^[1]

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1. Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom)

The uptake of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sewage sludge-amended soils by carrots (Daucus carota) was investigated. Carrots were grown in control soils and soils amended with three sludge application rates, 15, 55, and 180 t/ha. Applied sludge contained 17.2 mg [summation]PAH/kg, a concentration typical for a sludge derived from a rural area. Carrot foliage, root peels and root cores were analyzed for 15 PAH compounds. Carrots foliage PAH concentrations were unaffected by sludge applications (PAH loadings), but root peel PAH concentrations increased to a plateau concentration with increasing soil PAH levels. Low molecular weight PAH compounds dominate dindividual components of the [summation]PAH load in the root tissues. The PAH concentrations detected in the root peels were all significantly lower than in the foliage, which receives PAH inputs from the atmosphere. Carrot core [summation]PAH concentrations were unaffected by sludge application, implying little or no transfer of PAHs from the peels to the core. About 70% of the PAH burden found in carrots was associated with the peels. Fresh weight carrot core concentrations were all <4.2 [mu]g/kg. Overall, this investigation suggests that the risks posed to human health by PAHs applied in sewage sludge to arable soils are minimal.

• OSTI ID: 6994715
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Vol. 21:2; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARROTS
CONTAMINATION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ROOT ABSORPTION
SEWAGE SLUDGE
GROUND DISPOSAL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
LAND POLLUTION
ABSORPTION
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
FOOD
HYDROCARBONS
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
SORPTION
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology