Assessment of human health risk from crude oil contaminated soils: pollution with PAHs DIANA MARIANA COCÂRŢĂ, MIHAELA STOIAN, ADRIAN BADEA Department of Energy Production and Use University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest 313 Splaiul Independentei, sector 6, RO-060042 ROMANIA dmcocarta@gmail.com, stoian_mihaela20@yahoo.com, badea@energ.pub.ro, http://www.upb.ro Abstract: Human health risk assessment of contaminated soils with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a multidisciplinary procedure due to their genotoxic and carcinogenic potential. The present paper is illustrating the approach of using risk assessment as a method for investigation and evaluation of contaminated soils with crude oil, particularly pollution with PAHs. The study case is illustrating the functionality of the risk assessment tool related to an area mainly contaminated historically with heavy metals and artificially polluted with crude oil. The area is located Central Romania, close to a specific pollution source – non-ferrous industry. Results of the chemical analysis indicated relatively high concentrations of PAHs. In particular, seven individual PAHs were identified in 12 sampling points from the investigated area, chemicals known as human carcinogens; also concentration level for ƩPAHs (16 th compounds) was evidenced. Comparing with limits regulation in force in Romania, the results showed that the concentration level of PAHs has exceeded threshold values of alert or intervention for every single compound at least for one sampling point. The average concentrations of ΣPAHs exceed both the alert and intervention thresholds for sensitive land use. Results of the risk assessment revealed a risk factor of PAHs contaminated soil of 1.1 x 10 +0 , (six orders of magnitude over the acceptable risk of 10 -6 suggested by the World Health Organization). The paper represents an example of an approach that should be considered by the decision making factors in approving certain projects, but also by the specialists when performing the health risk assessment in relation to certain environmental objectives. Key-Words: soil pollution, crude oil, PAHs, exposure pathways, risk assessment 1 Introduction Soil contamination can be derived from many sources. According Europe Environmental Agency (EEA) contamination sources may include underground and aboveground storage tanks, refineries, or pipelines at businesses, offices, terminals, marinas, and public buildings [1]. Following the processes of oil-gas drilling, extraction, separation and exploitation, the soil, subsoil and aquifer can be contaminated. Specific contaminants of those activities are: oil, process water and reservoir technology, petroleum gases, drilling mud. Oil pollution can arise from oil spills, mishandling or technological malfunctions. The process water and reservoir technology accompany oil when occur drilling and operating activities. Their high salt content causes salinization phenomenon, which decrease the productive capacity of the soil. The petroleum gases accompanying are gaseous or can results from evaporation of liquid. The mud resulting from the drilling activity has harmful effects to the bio-capacity of the soil, due its high content of heavy metals and additives, salts, and sodium hydroxide [2], [3], [4]. The Romanian Environmental Protection Agency (ANPM) identified in Romania 1287 polluted sites. Between 2008–2009, in the framework of the preliminary national inventory of sites potentially contaminated /contaminated, was developed a study based on the available data. 738 sites are contaminated through oil extraction and 61 are deriving from the petroleum industry [5]. At the European level, the Europe Environmental Agency (EEA) developed a report on contaminated sites. This contains an overview of the pollution sources, the decontamination methods and the percentage of contamination caused by the main types of localized sources for each European country. Recent Advances on Energy and Environment ISBN: 978-1-61804-356-6 44