Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in street soil dust in Kumasi metropolis of Ghana

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in street soil dust from streets in Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region of the Republic of Ghana have been measured in this study. The concentrations of the various types of PAHs identified in this study are as follows: Naphthalene (m/e 128) - 41,700 microg/kg, Acenaphthylene (m/e 152) - 99,300 microg/kg, Acenaphthene (m/e 154) - 111,200 microg/kg, Fluorene (m/e 166) - 8,900 microg/kg, Carbazole (m/e 167) - 3,500 microg/kg, phenathrene (m/e 178) - 12,900 microg/kg, Anthracene (m/e 178) - 5,400 microg/kg, Fluoranthene (m/e 202) - 16,200 microg/kg, Pyrene (m/e 202) - 15,000 microg/kg, Benzo[a]anthracene (m/e 228) - 13,800 microg/kg, Chrysene (m/e 228) - 33,600 microg/kg, Benzo[k]fluoranthene (m/e 252) - 45,700 microg/kg, Benzo[a]pyrene (m/e 252) - 27,900 microg/kg, Perylene (m/e 252) - 57,200 microg/kg and Benzo[g, h, i]perylene (m/e 276) - 47,000 microg/kg. The results of the study shows that road users, like resident living in buildings within these areas, those engaged in commercial activities like hawking, and the general public are at risk of exposure to the toxic effects of the various types of PAHs from the exhaust of vehicles into the environment. According to these results, there is the potential for exposure to high levels of PAHs for road users and those living in urban environments or along highways.