Abstract
The 24-h records of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in the particulate phase were obtained for the urban site (52.42°N, 16.88°E) in Poznan, one of the largest cities in central Poland, between January and December 2014. The main goal of this study was to identify major emission sources of PAHs congeners and factors controlling their seasonal variability. The most abundant in the particulate matter PAH compound was pyrene (mean concentration of 2.29 ± 4.68 ng m–3, maximum of 22.51 ng m–3), followed by benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(ah)anthracene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, phenanthrene, benzo(ghi)perylene, chrysene, benz(a)anthracene and fluoranthene. The results showed a sharp decrease in PAHs concentrations during summer measurements (photodecomposition, high precipitation frequency), and high levels of the quantified PAHs during cold study period (increase anthropogenic emission, low air temperature). During the cold season in 2014, predominant PAHs congeners were: pyrene (26.0%) and 5-ring PAH compounds such as benzo(a)pyrene (19.4%) > dibenz(ah)anthracene (13.7%) ≥ benzo(k)fluoranthene (13.3%) > benzo(b)fluoranthene (9.8%), mostly associated with mixed sources (i.e., combustion, wood burning, industrial emission, traffic emission), whereas during warm study period we observed a large contribution (> 20%) of pyrene, dibenz(ah)anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene in particulate matter. The summertime measurements showed that local emission from the traffic (i.e., diesel and gasoline exhausts) was the second important source of PAHs in aerosol. The coal combustion for residential heating and industrial usage were most pronounced PAHs sources during the entire study period. The multivariate statistical technique (Principal Component Analysis) combined with some diagnostic ratios were applied to provide detailed characteristics of sources and processes related to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in different seasons. The results from this study are in good agreement with most of the studies focused on seasonal variability of PAHs in the atmosphere.
Highlights
Most of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic and can adversely affect human health through inhalation, dermal contact and consumption (Ravindra et al, 2001)
Summary and Remarks The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in total particulate matter (TPM) were determined during the one-year measurement campaign carried out at the urban site in Poznań city
The lower summertime PAHs concentrations compared to wintertime measurements, were attributed to photodegradation of semi-volatile compounds, significant differences in anthropogenic emission, precipitation regime and atmospheric conditions
Summary
Most of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic and can adversely affect human health through inhalation, dermal contact and consumption (Ravindra et al, 2001). PAHs are harmful pollutants of various molecular weight, which are released to the atmosphere mainly via hightemperature processes, including energy production from fossil fuels and incomplete combustion of coal, oil, metal smelting, municipal waste incineration, vehicular emission, Siudek and Frankowski, Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 18: 1405–1418, 2018 priority PAHs indicated by the US EPA, there are many other hazardous, condensed and low-volatile byproducts of PAHs reaction with hydroxyl-/nitro-radicals, ozone or other reactive species (Ren et al, 2017). The phase distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere is controlled by several factors, among which the most important are: volatility and lifetime of PAH congeners, thermal conditions and aerosol concentration (Wu et al, 2014). Due to intensive coal and wood combustion and enhanced gas-to-particle partitioning of PAHs at low temperature, the increase in concentrations of these organic pollutants in aerosol phase can be more frequently observed during wintertime (Bourotte et al, 2005, Shi et al, 2009). The results from their study showed that residential wood combustion had much higher contribution to BaP concentration than local vehicular traffic, which was visible during non-working days when traditional combustion devices (i.e., fireplaces and sauna stoves) were used
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