ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Content of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
in Soil Fertilized with Composted Municipal Waste
Wiera Sądej, Anna Namiotko
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Department of Environmental Chemistry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
Plac Łódzki 4, 10-727 Olsztyn, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2010;19(5):999-1005
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ABSTRACT
The object of our study is soil fertilized with a variety of compost produced from unsorted municipal
waste maturing in heaps for different lengths of time, and with green waste compost. Municipal waste composts
were applied at rates of 10 and 30 g·kg-1 soil, whereas green waste compost was introduced to soil as 10 g·kg-1
soil. Processes that take place during compost maturation have resulted in an increased concentration f polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons. More PAHs were determined in municipal waste composts than in green waste
compost. Fertilization of soil with municipal waste composts increased the content of PAHs in soil, but in most
cases the natural concentration of these compounds was not exceeded. However, the total PAHs more than
200 μg·kg-1 d.m. soil, which is above the natural content, were observed in the objects where the highest rates
of one- and three-month-old composts were applied. In the objects fertilized with green waste compost, total
PAHs (as well as the levels of particular compounds) were close to the values recorded for the control object.