Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in surface soils from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

Research reveals that surface soils on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) contain significantly lower levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as DDXs and HCHs, compared to eastern China. PAH concentrations were 1-2 orders of magnitude lower, while OCPs varied by 2-7 times across four sub-areas. The study found that PAHs in remote western QTP regions, including the Hoh Xil Mountains, likely originate from long-range transport and represent background levels for East Asia, serving as a critical receptor area for global atmospheric studies. In contrast, elevated PAH and OCP levels in Lhasa and east Qinghai were primarily locally sourced, with additional contributions from adjacent urban areas like Lanzhou. The research used soil sampling, emission density analysis, and air mass trajectory modeling to correlate pollutant levels with population density, soil organic carbon content, and geographic distribution.

Tao, S., Wang, W., Liu, W., Zuo, Q., Wang, X., Wang, R., Wang, B., Shen, G., Yang, Y., & He, J.-s. (2011). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in surface soils from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. J. Environ. Monit., 13(1), 175–181. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0em00298d