Volume 14, Issue 1 (6-2026)                   J Environ Health Eng 2026, 14(1): 31-44 | Back to browse issues page

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Jafarian F, Payandeh K, Nazrapour A, Gholami A, Mohsenifar K. Evaluation of the bioaccumulation index of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus microtheca) of Khuzestan Steel Plant, Ahvaz city. J Environ Health Eng 2026; 14 (1) :31-44
URL: http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-1157-en.html
1- Department of Soil Sciences, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
2- Research Group of Artificial Intelligence Application Development in Agriculture, Environment and Medicine, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran , payandeh426@gmail.com
3- Department of Geology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
4- Water Studies Research Center, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract:   (161 Views)
Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic and carcinogenic compounds for humans that often enter the environment due to human activities, increasing urbanization, and industrial development. This study aimed to measure and determine the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds of the leaves (Eucalyptus microtheca) in the industrial area of ​​the Khuzestan Steel Company in Ahvaz in 2022.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 50 leaf samples were collected from 50 points in the Khuzestan Steel Company in the summer with three replicates. To measure polycyclic aromatic compounds in the leaves, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry GC/MS was performed using a Thermo Fisher Scientific device made in the United States.
Results: The skewness and kurtosis values ​​of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds showed that the concentrations of these compounds in the leaves were within the range of -2 and 2, indicating a normal distribution. The average concentrations of Ant and Ace compounds in the leaves were 55.42 and 47.90 ng g-1, respectively, which were higher than those of the other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (P<0.05). The highest bioaccumulation index of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds in the leaves was obtained for Ace and Nap, with values of 0.054 and 0.049, respectively.
Conclusion: In general, Eucalyptus species cannot be considered as bio-tracer plants for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, because the bioaccumulation index of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds in eucalyptus leaves was lower than 1, so this tree species does not have an acceptable and suitable ability to absorb and transfer these types of pollutants from the soil.
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2026/02/11 | Accepted: 2026/05/20 | Published: 2026/06/20

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