![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
Using our long-term sampling methodology presented previously, consecutive 14-day air samples of semivolatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (from fluoranthene/pyrene to coronene) were collected over the time-span of nearly a whole year at a semi-rural site (Jülich) and quantified by GC-FID. As expected, concentrations were higher in winter [3 ng m−3 for benzo[e]pyrene (BEP)] than in summer (0.4 ng m−3 for BEP). However, normalized concentrations (to BEP =1) showed constant values for most PAH; thus, a largely stable PAH profile is obvious. Exceptions are benzo[a]pyrene and benz[a]anthracene: their concentrations normalized to BEP were lower in summer, indicating specific losses. Reasons for these losses are unknown as yet, although degradation reactions during atmospheric transport are a distinct possibility.