Title: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in top soil, leachate and groundwater from Ruseifa solid waste landfill, Jordan

Authors: Anwar Jiries, Omar Rimawi, Jutta Lintelmann, Mufeed Batarseh

Addresses: Water and Environmental Studies Center, P.O. Box 2, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan. ' Faculty of Science, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. ' GSF, National Research Center for Environment and Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany. ' Chemistry Department, Mutah University, P.O. Box 7, Al-Karak, Jordan

Abstract: The distribution profiles and pathways of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the surroundings of Ruseifa landfill area in Jordan were investigated for surface sediments, leachate, and groundwater. The total concentration of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments ranged from 286 to 1704 ppm with an average value of 751 ppm. Meanwhile, concentrations of PAH in groundwater ranged between 7.1 and 12.6 ppm with an average value of 9.1 ppm. The PAH in leachate varied between 0.10 and 0.40 with an average value of 0.29 ppm. The overall PAH distribution profiles appeared to be similar for leachate and groundwater dominated by 2–3 rings system molecules. While, the sediments profile was dominated by 4–6 rings system molecules which indicated the loss of low molecular weight compounds of PAH and accumulation of higher molecular weight of PAH under prevailing semiarid and hot climatic conditions.

Keywords: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PAH; solid waste landfill; Jordan; leachate; sediment; groundwater; top soil; waste management; environmental impact; solid waste burning; pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2005.006859

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2005 Vol.23 No.2, pp.179 - 188

Published online: 19 Apr 2005 *

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