Traffic-Impacted Soils Containing Oil and Grease and PAHs: Distance-Based Monitoring, PAH Cancer Risk Assessment, and Source Apportionment

Melike Büşra Bayramoğlu Karşı

doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1700639

EN TR

Traffic-Impacted Soils Containing Oil and Grease and PAHs: Distance-Based Monitoring, PAH Cancer Risk Assessment, and Source Apportionment

Abstract

In this study, surface soil samples were collected from agricultural land located in the Bolu region along the D-100 highway—which connects Turkey’s populous cities, Istanbul and Ankara—at distances ranging from 0 to 100 meters from the road. Measurements of oil and grease (OG) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were conducted, and the concentrations, distribution, sources, and potential health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were assessed. The results showed that OG concentrations ranged from 259.04 to 910.80 µg kg-1 dry weight (dw), with the highest values detected at the roadside and the lowest at 100 meters away, reflecting the direct impact of vehicle-related pollution. DOC concentrations varied between 43.68 and 105.98 mg kg-1 dw, but no statistically significant relationship with distance was found, suggesting that DOC may have been transported across and beyond the area by factors such as rainwater and runoff. Total PAH concentrations were measured between 123.30 and 606.50 ng g-1 dw and exhibited a strong negative correlation with distance (r=–0.85, p<.05), confirming that PAH sources are predominantly linked to traffic activities. Source analysis using isomer ratios indicated that PAH contamination largely originated from diesel and liquid fossil fuel combustion. Lifetime incremental cancer risk (ILCR) assessment revealed that exposure to these soils poses a significant health risk for all population groups (ILCR>10⁻⁴). This study highlights the significant impact of highway traffic on surface soil pollution and emphasizes the importance of regular monitoring of roadside soils to implement necessary measures aimed at reducing environmental and human health risks.

Keywords

Trafikten Etkilenmiş Topraklarda Yağ ve Gres ile PAH’lar: Mesafeye Dayalı İzleme, PAH Kaynaklı Kanser Riski Değerlendirmesi ve Kaynak Belirleme

Öz

Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’nin en kalabalık iki şehri olan İstanbul ve Ankara’yı birbirine bağlayan D-100 karayolu güzergâhında, Bolu bölgesinde yer alan tarım arazilerinden yüzey toprak örnekleri toplanmıştır. Örnekler yoldan itibaren 0 ila 100 metre mesafeler arasında alınmıştır. Toprak örneklerinde yağ ve gres (OG) ile çözünmüş organik karbon (DOC) ölçümleri gerçekleştirilmiş; polisiklik aromatik hidrokarbonların (PAH’lar) ise konsantrasyonları, dağılımları, kaynakları ve potansiyel sağlık riskleri değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre OG konsantrasyonları kuru ağırlık (ka) başına 259,04 ile 910,80 µg kg-1 arasında değişmekte olup, en yüksek değerler yol kenarında, en düşük değerler ise 100 metre uzaklıkta tespit edilmiştir. Bu durum, araç kaynaklı kirliliğin doğrudan etkisini yansıtmaktadır. DOC konsantrasyonları 43,68 ile 105,98 mg kg-1 ka arasında değişmekle birlikte mesafe ile istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki göstermemiştir. Bu durum, DOC’nin yağmur suyu ve yüzey akışı gibi çevresel etkenlerle alan boyunca taşınmış olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Toplam PAH konsantrasyonları 123,30 ile 606,50 ng g-1 ka arasında ölçülmüş ve mesafe ile güçlü negatif korelasyon göstermiştir (r=–0,85, p<,05). Bu bulgu, PAH kaynaklarının büyük ölçüde trafik faaliyetleriyle ilişkili olduğunu doğrulamaktadır. İzomer oranlarına dayalı kaynak analizleri, PAH kirliliğinin ağırlıklı olarak dizel ve sıvı fosil yakıtların yanmasından kaynaklandığını ortaya koymuştur. Yaşam boyu artan kanser riski (ILCR) değerlendirmesi, bu topraklara maruz kalmanın tüm nüfus grupları için önemli düzeyde sağlık riski oluşturduğunu göstermiştir (ILCR>10⁻⁴). Bu çalışma, karayolu trafiğinin yüzey toprağı kirliliği üzerindeki önemli etkisini ortaya koymakta ve çevresel ve insan sağlığı risklerini azaltmaya yönelik gerekli önlemlerin alınabilmesi için yol kenarı topraklarının düzenli olarak izlenmesinin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Supporting Institution

Funding: No specific fund was received for this research work.

Project Number

Funding: No specific fund was received for this research work.

Ethical Statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable.

Thanks

Acknowledgements The author gratefully acknowledges Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Innovative Food Technologies Development Application and Research Center (YENIGIDAM), Research Groups–Atmospheric Research Group for providing the laboratory infrastructure and access to analytical instrumentation used in this study. The author also extends thanks to Siirt University Science and Technology Application and Research Center (SIUBTAM) for conducting certain soil analyses (pH, EC, SOM, and texture analysis) and to Dr. Duran Karakaş for his valuable suggestions.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Ecology , Soil Chemistry and Soil Carbon Sequestration (Excl. Carbon Sequestration Science)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Melike Büşra Bayramoğlu Karşı ^*
0000-0003-3162-8119
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

January 21, 2026

Publication Date

January 21, 2026

Submission Date

May 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 31, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 29 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1700639

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA34RC25EB

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Bayramoğlu Karşı, M. B. (2026). Traffic-Impacted Soils Containing Oil and Grease and PAHs: Distance-Based Monitoring, PAH Cancer Risk Assessment, and Source Apportionment. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, 29(2), 520-536. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1700639