The gap between chemical and biological approaches to assessing petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in soils

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated research gap and future-work section of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2025 and 2026, spanning 4 journals. Those papers have been cited 4 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 7 representative gaps

• Seasonal Variability of Soil Physicochemical Properties, Potentially Toxic Elements, and PAHs in Crude Oil-Impacted Environments: Chemometric Analysis and Health Risk Assessment (2025) · Environments · cited 1× · doi

  The seasonal and depth-related variations of soil physicochemical properties, potentially toxic elements, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil-impacted environments are not well understood. There is a need for remediation and monitoring to mitigate ecological and public health risks.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: seasonal depth-related variations soil physicochemical properties potentially toxic
• From TPH to Multi-Endpoint Monitoring: Rethinking Remediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soils in Arctic and Sub-Arctic Regions (2026) · Environments · doi

  The limitations of relying on total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration as a primary endpoint. The need for multi-endpoint monitoring systems to assess contaminant risk and treatment effectiveness. The lack of robust monitoring frameworks capable of linking contamination assessment with decision-making.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: limitations relying total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration primary endpoint
• From TPH to Multi-Endpoint Monitoring: Rethinking Remediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soils in Arctic and Sub-Arctic Regions (2026) · Environments · doi

  Field-scale comparative studies of landfarming, biopiles, composting, and biostimulation under comparable Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions - Multi-season monitoring of residual and weathered petroleum hydrocarbons, including slow-degrading fractions - Optimization of nutrient regimes, including type, dose, timing, and delivery methods for cold-region soils - Mandatory pilot testing of surfactants and amendments prior to full-scale implementation - Development of bioavailability-oriented analytical methods for petroleum-contaminated soils - Integration of multi-endpoint monitoring systems, combining methods, bioassays, microbial indicators, and conventional chemical analysis

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: field-scale comparative studies landfarming biopiles composting biostimulation comparable
• Reducing the Gap Between Chemical and Biological Assessment of Petroleum-Contaminated Soils: An FTIR-Based Method Using Aqueous Dimethyl Sulfoxide Extraction (2026) · Environments · cited 3× · doi

  The gap between chemical and biological approaches to assessing petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in soils. The lack of comparable methods for evaluating contamination severity and remediation effectiveness. The need for a more integrated assessment of soil contamination.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: gap between chemical biological approaches assessing petroleum hydrocarbon
• Response of Soil Microbial Communities to Oil Pollution and Remediation in the Yellow River Delta (2026) · Diversity · doi

  further studies are needed to investigate the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons, - research on the recovery of diverse metabolic pathways in remediated soils is necessary, - the role of Pseudomonadota and Actinobacteriota in petroleum hydrocarbon contamination should be further explored

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: further studies needed investigate removal total petroleum hydrocarbons
• Hydrocarbon Contamination Contributes to Increases in Soil Organic Carbon: Impacts on Risk Assessments of Contaminated Land in the UK (2026) · Land · doi

  The current methods for measuring soil organic carbon do not account for the interference of total petroleum hydrocarbons. There is a lack of understanding of the relationship between total petroleum hydrocarbons and soil organic carbon. The study aims to address this gap by investigating the interference of total petroleum hydrocarbons with soil organic carbon measurements.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: current methods measuring soil organic carbon account interference
• Hydrocarbon bioremediation in a karstic and leptosol soils from Mexico. The efficiency of soil inoculation on hydrocarbon removal (2026) · Brazilian Journal of Microbiology · doi

  Further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of the bioremediation method. The application of the method to other types of contaminated soils should be investigated. The identification of other bacterial strains associated with the biodegradation of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons is necessary.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: further studies needed determine long-term effects bioremediation method

Questions about this gap