Particle-size distributions of environmentally persistent free radicals and oxidative potential of soils from a former gasworks site

The formation of toxic by-products, such as environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs), is one of the causes for concern by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils. However, the distribution of EPFRs in different soil fractions and their relative contribution to the oxidation potential (OP) have not been investigated. In the present paper, contaminated samples were obtained from the former gasworks sites and were fractionated into different size particles, which were analyzed for EPFRs, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and OP-assayed by dithiothreitol (DTT) (OPDTT). The results showed the highest concentration of EPFRs in the soil particle size with diameters <0.15 mm due to co-existence of PAHs and transition metals. ROS generation is in accordance with the size-specific distribution of EPFRs. Using the DTT assays, the redox activity of various size soil particles was examined, and found it was approximately 4-to 8-folds higher than that of un-contaminated samples and strongly associated with EPFRs, ROS, and PAHs. The obtained results advanced our knowledge on the EPFRs distribution in soil fractions at former MGP sites and emphasized the significance of PAH-EPFRs as a class of compounds to be considered in risk assessment of contaminated sites.

Automated summary

This study investigated the distribution of EPFRs in different soil particles and their contribution to OP. The results showed that the highest concentration of EPFRs was found in soil particles with diameters <0.15 mm. The DTT assay revealed that the redox activity of contaminated soil particles was 4 to 8 times higher than that of un-contaminated samples, and it was strongly associated with EPFRs, ROS, and PAHs.