| In addition to providing essential training facilities, many military sites offer recreational skeet ranges. Because clay targets used in skeet shooting are left to biodegrade, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may be released. This study characterizes the distribution of PAHs in skeet range soils at two ranges and informally identifies their potential ecological risks. Sampling conducted at two military skeet ranges found that mean PAH concentrations for benzo(a)anthracene; benzo(a)pyrene; benzo(b)fluoranthene; benzo(k)fluoranthene; dibenzo(a,h)anthracene; indeno(1.2,3-c,d)pyrene; phenanthrene; and pyrene exceeded Canadian soil quality guidelines. Further analysis of these parameters using the Kruskal-Wallis test found that PAH concentrations did not vary significantly between sampling locations (i.e. transect, distance), but did vary significantly by depth. Following a review of available literature, it was concluded that the PAH contaminated soils at the study sites are not likely to present ecological risks outside of the impact areas, but may pose some risk to receptors inhabiting the impacted areas. |
