Distribution of the solvent-extractable organic compounds in fine (PM 1) and coarse (PM 1–10) particles in urban, industrial and forest atmospheres of Northern Algeria

Abstract

The distribution of the solvent-extractable organic components in the fine (PM 1) and coarse (PM 1–10) fractions of airborne particulate was studied for the first time in Algeria. That was done during October 2006 concurrently in a big industrial district, a busy urban area, and a forest national park located in Algiers, Boumerdes, Blida, respectively, which are the three biggest provinces of Northern Algeria. Most of the organic matter identified in both particle size ranges consisted of n-alkanes and n-alkanoic acids, with minor contributions coming from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs), oxygenated PAHs, and other polar compounds (e.g., caffeine and nicotine). The potential emission sources of airborne contaminants were reconciled by combining the values of n-alkane carbon preference index (CPI) and selected diagnostic ratios of PAHs, calculated in both size ranges. The mean cumulative concentrations of PAHs reached 3.032 ng m − 3 at the Boumerdes site, urban, 80% of which (i.e. 2.246 ng m − 3 ) in the PM 1 fraction, 6.462 ng m − 3 at Rouiba–Réghaia, industrial district, (5.135 ng m − 3 or 80% in PM 1), and 0.512 ng m − 3 at Chréa, forested mountains (0.370 ng m − 3 or 72% in PM 1). Similar patterns were shown by all organic groups, which resulted overall enriched in the fine particles at the three sites. Carcinogenic and mutagenic potencies associated to PAHs were evaluated by multiplying the concentrations of “toxic” compounds times the corresponding potency factors normalized vs. benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), and were found to be both acceptable.