Atmospheric levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in gas and particulate phases from Tarragona Region (NE Spain)

Abstract

The atmospheric levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric samples taken at two urban sites and two sites near industrial areas of the Tarragona region (Catalonia, Spain), where one of the most important petrochemical complexes in the south of Europe is located, were determined. Gas and particulate phase of air were separately sampled and analysed. Concentrations of 16 PAHs studied ranged from 4.2 to 22.5 ng m−3, with predominant levels of PAHs appearing in gas phase (∼90% of total PAHs). In all samples, the most abundant compounds were phenanthrene, with a contribution to total PAHs between 32 and 44%, followed by naphthalene, fluorene and fluoranthene (contribution range: 10–22%). The levels of total PAHs, expressed as benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalent factors (BaPTEF), were lower than 0.06 ng m−3.