Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Industrial and Agricultural Soils and Groundwater of Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants generated mainly from industrial activities and incomplete combustion processes,
posing significant environmental and public health concerns. Rapid industrial development and insufficient environmental regulation in Baghdad, Iraq, have
contributed to increased emissions of these hazardous compounds. The present study investigated the occurrence and distribution of five priority PAHs in soil
and groundwater collected from three major industrial areas (Dura refinery, Nahrawan brick factories, and Taji asphalt plants) and adjacent agricultural lands.
A total of 18 samples each of industrial and agricultural soil and 18 groundwater samples were analyzed using approved high-performance liquid chromatography
technology. with photodiode array detection (HPLC–PDA). Industrial soils exhibited significantly higher total PAH concentrations compared to agricultural
soils (p < 0.001), with maximum levels reaching 843.4 μg/kg in the Taji asphalt area. Groundwater samples showed relatively lower contamination levels. Noncarcinogenic risk assessment indicated that hazard index (HI) values for both adults and children were below the acceptable threshold (HI < 1). However,
carcinogenic risk assessment revealed total cancer risk (TCR) values exceeding the acceptable limit (10⁻⁴) in certain industrial locations, primarily due to highmolecular-weight PAHs such as benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene. The findings highlight significant industrial contributions to PAH contamination in
Baghdad soils and emphasize the need for continuous environmental monitoring and effective pollution control measures to reduce long-term health risks.