Pollution Characteristics and Spatio-Temporal Variation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Jinan, China

Abstract

Atmospheric particulate samples of seven sites in Jinan city weres collected by intelligent and middle flow TSP sample (TH-150C). Methods were employed to extract Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from atmospheric particulate matter, including accelerated solvent extraction, revolving evaporation, silica column filtration and nitrogen blowing apparatus. Also, the Gas Chromatogram - Mass Spectrum (GC-MS) detection technology was adopted to determine the concentrations of PAHs. The mass concentration and total concentration of 16 PAHs in the particulates were obtained in the ambient air of selected seven sites in Jinan city. According to the detection datum, the pollution characteristics and Spatio-Temporal distribution patterns of these PAHs were discussed. The analysis results demonstrated that the variation pattern of the total amount of these 16 PAHs was winter season> autumn season > spring season > summer season in one year. Moreover, comparison to the total concentration of 16 PAHs collected in the seven sites during non heating period, Zhangqiu had the highest PAHs level and the Monitoring Station of Jinan city had the lowest PAHs level. However, during both the sandstorm period and heating period, Changqing occupied the highest PAHs level and Paoma Ling had the lowest PAHs level. In addition, the total amount levels of the 16 PAHs in ambient particulates of the seven sites have identical patterns: non heating period < sandstorm period < heating period. However, the total concentration of PAHs during the heating period was much higher than those during both sandstorm and non heating periods. Besides, the structure of PAHs in ambient particulates in Jinan city was mainly based on middle-and-high rings. Therefore, the monitoring and prevention of middle-and-high rings structures of PAHs should be emphasized in Jinan city in future.