Abstract

Knowledge of transport and degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is important in
assessing PAH contamination of soils and water resources. The transport of naphthalene, anthracene,
pyrene and phenanthrene was determined in a contaminated calcareous soil obtained from the Shadegan
wetland (Khozestan, Iran) considering a column study in laboratory conditions. The PAHs were added to
the top 5 cm of soils at 75 and 150 mg kg-1 and leachates were collected for 10 pore volumes. PAH
concentrations in the leachate fractions and soils (0-5, 5-10, 10-15 and 15-20 cm depths) were determined
using high pressure liquid chromatography. Results showed that naphthalene was the most mobile
among the PAHs, and differences among the mobility of selected PAHs were related to their water
solubility and structure. Mass balance demonstrated that among the selected PAHs, anthracene and
naphthalene were the most and the least recalcitrant compounds, respectively. Hence, naphthalene could
have the greatest potential to contaminate surface and ground waters which should be considered
apparently.