Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants in agricultural soils: occurrence and remediation

Publication date: 12-12-2025
Extent: 28 pages

Contributions by: Teklit Gebregiorgis Ambaye, University of Brescia, Italy/Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; and Mentore Vaccari, University of Brescia, Italy

Chapter synopsis:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution poses potential risks to human health, soil, and microbial biodiversity, presenting challenges for sustainable development. PAH pollution is mostly attributed to anthropogenic sources, such as domestic and industrial runoff or emissions, influenced by weathering processes, posing a challenge to transportation, fate, and distribution, with most of the available treatment methods being costly and environmentally unfriendly. This review discusses emerging technologies for remediating soil polluted with PAH and their contamination routes, techniques for their identification and tracking, persistence and bioaccumulation in the soil, and risks to and effects on human health and soil health. This review also discusses recent developments in the management of soil contamination with PAH and its challenges. This review suggests that nanoremediation methodologies enhance soil remediation by increasing microbial functionality and biodegrading contaminants. This eco-friendly and sustainable method addresses soil pollution with PAH, enhances the cleanup process, and minimizes environmental impact.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2025.0151.01