RESUMO
n-butanol and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) were used to extract polyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from 9 aged agricultural fields and to assess the PAHs bioavailability to earthworm (Eisenia fetida). It was demonstrated that the high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs (> or = 4 rings) contribute the largest proportions (4-ring PAHs: 34.06%, 5-6 rings: 34.09%) to the contaminants in long-term aged field soils. Moreover, the light molecular weight PAHs were easily accumulated in the earthworm,while the high molecular weight PAHs were hard to accumulate. The extraction by mild solvent correlated well with the 3 ring PAHs (r2 0.77-0.79) but not for the other rings PAHs (r2 <0.35), indicating that mild extraction may not serve as a good predictor of PAHs bioavailability to earthworm.
