Chemical and stable carbon isotopic characterization for PAHs in aerosol emitted from two indoor sources

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are with great environmental concerns due to their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties. The harmful effects caused by PAHs emitted from indoor sources may be more direct and serious. In this study, PAHs in aerosol from two typical indoor sources, the cooking fume (CF) and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) were collected by simulation emission in a chamber. Eighteen PAHs were analyzed by GC/MS and GC/C/IRMS. The chemical profiles of these two sources were described. Results indicated that Fluoranthene, Pyrene and Fluorene in CF, and Fluorene, Phenanthrene, Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene and Benz(a)anthracene in ETS, relative quantity of which were variable in a smaller range, can be regarded as tracers of indoor PAHs sources. There are distinct differences among the ratios of Benz(a)anthracene/Chrysene, Benzo(e)pyrene/Benzo(a)pyrene and Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene/Benzo(g,h,i)perylene between CF and EST. Distribution of δ 13C of individual PAHs in ETS samples ranged from −21.76‰ to −29.32‰, wider than that in CF samples (−22.94‰ to −28.39‰). The δ 13C of Phenanthrene, Benz(a)anthracene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, Benzo(k)fluoranthene and Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene between these two sources showed great differences. The 13C was enriched in low molecule weight compounds of CF samples and in high molecule weight compounds of ETS samples.