Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds at Jungfraujoch High-Alpine Research Station using Two-Step Laser Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Jungfraujoch (JFJ) is considered to be a location for background free troposphere measurements. Aerosol particles collected at JFJ are analyzed to characterize adsorbed polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). Aerosol samples were collected from March 21 to 25, 2000 and from August 1 to 9, 2000. Samples were then analyzed by two-step laser mass spectrometry (L2MS). The mass spectra show higher relative concentrations of PACs present on samples collected during the August sampling period versus the March sampling period. L2MS data from March indicates good correlation with black carbon aerosol data measured in parallel. This suggests that long range transport of aerosol from combustion is responsible for the majority of PACs observed. Data from August unexpectedly showed markers indicative of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The contribution to total aerosol may be small, but the relative signal of ETS markers correlates well with the number of visitors coming daily to JFJ, pointing to a local source of ETS.