Abstract
To understand the deposition and transport of PAHs in southern China, a measurement campaign was conducted at a high-elevation site (the summit of Mount Heng, 1269 m A.S.L.) from April 4 to May 31, 2009, and a total of 39 total suspended particulate samples were collected for measurement of PAH concentrations. The observed particulate-bound PAHs concentrations ranged from 1.63 to 29.83 ng/m3, with a mean concentration of 6.03 ng/m3. BbF, FLA, and PYR were the predominant compounds. Good correlations were found between individual PAHs and meteorological parameters such as atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, and ambient temperature. The backward trajectory analysis suggested that particulate samples measured at the Mount Heng region were predominantly associated with the air masses from southern China, while the air masses transported over northern and northwestern China had relative higher PAHs concentrations. Based on the diagnostic ratios and factor analysis, vehicular emission, coal combustion, industry emission, and unburned fossil fuels were suggested to be the PAHs sources at Mount Heng site. However, the reactivity and degradation of individual PAHs could influence the results of PAH source profiles, which deserves further investigations in the future.
Highlights
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of widespread environmental contaminants, originating from both natural and anthropogenic sources
Similar distribution of individual PAHs has been reported in previous studies in China
When comparing with other areas, the PAHs concentrations at Mount Heng are much lower than the results reported in urban cities or areas in China, including Beijing [14], Guangzhou [15], and Northern Plain [16]
Summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of widespread environmental contaminants, originating from both natural (e.g., forest fires and volcanoes) and anthropogenic sources (e.g., incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of fossil fuels or organic materials). Human activities (i.e., anthropogenic sources) contribute the most to PAHs emissions. PAHs are persistent and accumulative in environment, and they can cause carcinogenic and mutagenic effects to living things. These compounds have received more and more attention by environmental scientists for the last several decades. Since 1990, reduction of PAHs emission has been reported in U.S and European countries In contrast to those developed countries, the PAH emissions in China have been continuously increasing due to the rapid industrialization and economic development [5,6,7]. The total PAH emission in China was estimated to be about 25,300 tons in the year of 2003 and the major sources were suggested to be domestic coal combustion, biofuel burning, and industry emission [5]
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