Abstract
Total particulate matter and PM10 samples were collected from August 2006 to February 2007 in Mayor José Carlos Lacerda bus station. 16 priority PAHs compounds emitted by heavy-duty vehicles on typical conditions of operation were analyzed by using GC/MS. ΣPAH accounted for 0.0018% of the TSP mass and 0.0012% of the PM10 mass. Total PAH contents on the particle phase were 3.57 ng m-3 and 2.59 ng m-3 for TSP and PM10, respectively. Contributions of carcinogenic USEPA priority PAHs (B[a]An, B[b]F, B[k]F, B[a]Py, IPy and DB[ah]A) were 1.86 ng m-3 (52% of total PAHs) and 1.40 ng m-3 (54% of total PAHs), for TSP and PM10 samples, respectively. Diagnostic ratios and multivariate statistical analysis were, in general, similar to those reported for soil dust except for the Flt/Flt+Py) ratio, 0.34, compatible with diesel emissions. Dry deposition fluxes were in the range of 0.022-0.603 and 0.016-0.436 μg m-2 day-1 for compounds in TSP and PM10, respectively.
Highlights
The atmosphere is the major transport pathway for the movement of PAHs through the global environment
Individual concentrations were between the detection limit for acenaphtylene, acenaphthene, anthracene and fluorene and 2.27 and 1.74 ng m-3 for benzo[ghi]
A comparative study of PAH concentrations determined in PM10 and GF/PUF samples collected at two urban stations in the city of Brno, Czech
Summary
The atmosphere is the major transport pathway for the movement of PAHs through the global environment. Particle-Associated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and their Dry Deposition Fluxes. Lighter PAHs with 2-3 benzene rings are mostly found in the gas phase while the heavier ones are mainly associated with airborne particles. The carcinogenic larger PAHs (5-7 rings) are associated with particles in the atmosphere. Some of the 3 and 4 rings PAHs are bound to particles. Most of the mutagens in ambient air were proved to be particle-associated. PAHs are mostly sorbed on small inhalable particles mainly on airborne particles of submicron diameter which can deposit in the respiratory tract, increasing the potential hazardous effects.[3,4]
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