An evaluation of uncertainty associated to analytical measurements of selected polycyclic aromatic compounds in ambient air

Abstract

This paper presents an evaluation of uncertainty associated to analytical measurement of 18 polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in ambient air by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC/FD). The study was focused on analyses of PM10, PM2.5 and gas phase fractions. Main analytical uncertainty was estimated for 11 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), four nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) and two hydroxy-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) based on the analytical determination, reference material analysis and extraction step. Main contributions reached 15–30% and came from extraction process of real ambient samples, being those for nitro-PAHs the highest (20–30%). Range and mean concentration of selected PACs measured in gas phase and PM10/PM2.5 particle fractions during a full year are also presented. Concentrations of OH-PAHs were about 2–4 orders of magnitude lower than their parent PAHs and comparable to those sparsely reported in literature.