PM2.5‐Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Nitrated PAHs (NPAHs) and Oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs) in Typical Traffic‐Related Receptor Environments

Abstract

AbstractPM2.5‐bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrated PAHs (NPAHs) and oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs) around roadside, port and airport areas were investigated to evaluate the impacts of vehicle, ship and aviation emissions on PAHs and their derivatives in relevant receptor environments. The PAHs concentrations in fuels increased in the following order: jet fuel < heavy fuel oil for vessel < automobile diesel fuel. However, the average mass ratio concentrations of PM2.5‐bound PAHs in roadside, port and airport areas were 42.9, 158.7 and 260.4 μg/g, respectively. The low PAHs concentrations in fuel were relevant to the high PAHs emissions. The composition of the molecular species showed that 5‐ and 6‐rings PAHs were dominated in roadside area, while 3‐ and 4‐rings PAHs were major proportions in port and airport areas. The average mass ratio concentrations of PM2.5‐bound NPAHs and OPAHs concentrations in roadside, port and airport areas were 23.5 and 115.2, 4.8 and 39.9, and 26.4 and 284.2 μg/g, respectively. The different variation tendencies between PAHs and their derivates, dominant individual NPAHs, diagnostic ratios of NPAH isomers and principal component analysis revealed that primary emission was the major contributor to NPAHs and OPAHs in three receptor environments, and secondary formation played non‐negligible roles in NPAHs formation in roadside and airport areas. In addition, 9‐nitroanthracene (9‐NAnt) and anthraquinone (ATQ) were found to be the indicatory compounds for traffic emission. Taken together, these results may provide a basic information for assessing the impact of traffic emission sources on PAC emissions to the related receptor environment.