Study of PAH dissipation and phytoremediation in soils: Comparing freshly spiked with weathered soil from a former coking works

- Dissipation of PAHs in soil was studied in greenhouse experiments.
- Freshly applied PAHs (pure chemicals or a coal tar mixture) dissipated more rapidly than PAHs in historically contaminated soil.
- There was evidence of increased dissipation of coal tar PAHs in planted soil compared to unplanted soil.
- There was no increased reduction of PAH levels in historically contaminated soil due to growing plants.