Abstract: In order to accurately predict the bioavailability of PAHs in coking plant soil, Tenax-TA extraction of PAH fast desorption fraction and solid phase microextraction (SPME) were applied in this study to predict the PAHs concentration in earthworms (Eisenia fetida), and the data were compared with measured PAHs concentration in earthworms to analyze their difference and correlation. The results showed that the PAHs concentrations measured in earthworms were linearly related with those in bulk soil and those predicted by SPME and Tenax (R²=0.88, 0.55 and 0.94, respectively). There was no relationship between the PAHs concentration in earthworms and that in soil pore water predicted by SPME. While SPME somewhat overestimated PAHs concentration in earthworms, Tenax predicted it with a ratio nearly to 1∶1, which indicates that Tenax-TA  extraction of PAH fast desorption fraction in coking plant soil may serve as a better predictor to assess PAHs bioavailability. Our results provided a theoretical basis for the environmental risk evaluation and remediation of PAHs polluted soil.

Key words: near surface CO₂ concentration, character of underlying surface, monitoring along the transects, urbanization, Shanghai City.