published_or_final_version / Geography / Master / Master of Philosophy

Zou, Huiling. / Thesis submitted in: November 2008. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-176). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.viii / List of tables --- p.x / List of figures --- p.xiii / Abbreviations --- p.xv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Physicochemical properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Sources of PAHs --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Toxicity of PAHs --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Fate of PAHs in environment --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Soil physicochemical and microbiological properties --- p.16 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Geography and climate of Hong Kong --- p.17 / Chapter 1.1.7 --- Traffic status in Hong Kong --- p.17 / Chapter 1.1.8 --- Research status in Hong Kong --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2 --- "Significant, objectives and outline of this study" --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Research significance --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Research objectives and thesis outline --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- PAH concentrations and their seasonal variations in roadside soils in Hong Kong / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Soil sampling --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Soil physicochemical properties analysis --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Soil PAH analysis --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Extraction of PAHs --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Cleanup and concentration of the extract --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.3.3 --- Determination of PAHs --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.3.4 --- Calibration standards and recovery --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Soil PAH contents and their relationships with soil physicochemical properties and AADT --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Soil PAHs --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Soil physicochemical properties --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1.3 --- Relationships of PAH contents with soil physicochemical properties and AADT --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Seasonal variations of PAH contents of roadside soils --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4 --- Conclusion --- p.56 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- "PAH concentrations in roadside vegetation, dusts and soils" / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Sampling --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Soil physicochemical properties analysis --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- PAHs analysis --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Extraction of PAHs --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Cleanup and concentration of the extract --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Determination of PAHs --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Calibration standards and recovery --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Soil physicochemical properties --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- PAH concentrations --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Soil PAHs --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Dust PAHs --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- Vegetation PAHs --- p.71 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- PAH profile --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- PAH sources --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- PCA and HCA --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- "Relationships of PAH contents between vegetation, dust and soil, and soil physicochemical properties and AADT" --- p.99 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.124 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Vertical and horizontal distribution of PAHs in roadside soil and their influences on soil microbial characteristics / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.126 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.127 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sampling --- p.127 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Soil physicochemical properties analysis --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Soil microbial biomass carbon analysis --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Soil microbial community analysis --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Soil enzyme activity analysis --- p.129 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Soil PAH analysis --- p.130 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.131 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Vertical distribution --- p.131 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Horizontal distribution --- p.137 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Influences of roadside soil PAH on microbial characteristics --- p.142 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.153 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General conclusion / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary of findings --- p.155 / Chapter 5.2 --- Limitations of the study --- p.157 / Chapter 5.3 --- Implications for further studies --- p.158 / References --- p.159