ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Quantification of Selected Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Soil, Water and Blood
by an Optimized and Validated HPLC –UV–DAD
Method
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1
Quality Operations Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
Lahore, Pakistan
2
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Submission date: 2021-10-08
Final revision date: 2022-01-07
Acceptance date: 2022-01-20
Online publication date: 2022-05-05
Publication date: 2022-07-12
Corresponding author
Muhammad Imran
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, Abdul Qadir Gillani (outfall) Road, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(4):3633-3644
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ABSTRACT
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced as primary environmental pollutants
as a result of incomplete combustion of fuels. They harbor mutagenic and carcinogenic properties.
Their continuous monitoring is considered a requisite for keeping them into admissible limits.
The current study was designed to quantify the levels of PAHs in soil, water and blood samples.
One hundred and fifty samples each of soil, water, human and animal blood were collected from
highly exposed areas including industrial, highways and incinerators linked areas around Lahore
city, Punjab, Pakistan. Amounts of six selected PAHs (Phenanthrene, Biphenyl, Biphenthrene,
Naphthalene, Anthracene and P-Ansidine) were quantified by reverse phase-high performance liquid
chromatography (RP-HPLC) equipped with UV-VIS photodiodes array detector (PDA) at 247 nm.
An isocratic method was optimized and validated for use with soil, water and plasma samples. To obtain
the reliable results the HPLC method was validated following the ICH/FDA guidelines. It was found
that PAHs exist in large quantity in highly exposed areas particularly the soil samples were extremely
contaminated with PAHs. The highest average concentration of Naphthalene (260.85±165.64 μg/kg)
was detected in samples from industrial areas. Conversely, the lowest average amount of Biphenanthrene
(10.31±3.46 μg/kg) was found in samples from highways. Human and animal plasma samples were also
found to carry PAHs in comparatively lower levels than soil and water.