Study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil samples from Al-Ahdab oil field in Waset Region, Iraq

Abstract

Levels of thirteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied in 24 soil samples collected from the Ahdab oil field in Waset region, Iraq. The whole analysis was carried out using the gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the single ion monitoring (SIM)-mode. The total PAHs concentrations were ranged between 19 μg/kg (Site 15) and 855 μg/kg (Site of 16). The results of these samples were compared among each other according to their toxicity equivalence in μg TEQ/g concentrations and with the results of other studies. The total estimated cancer risks of exposure to PAHs in soil samples were ranged from 1.02 × 10−7 to 4.59 × 10−6. By multiplying the estimated cancer risk values by 106, then the estimated theoretical cancer cases per million is between 0.0 and 5. The total estimated cancer risks in this study were within the acceptable range of excess cancer risk specified by the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States.