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The levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in airborne particulate matter (PM) of urban aerosols were studied in Estonia. Samples of PM, particularly of the fine fractions (P 10 and PM 2.5 ), were taken from different locations in the capital city (Tallinn). The range of mean concentrations of 16 priority PAHs, according to the US EPA List in PM 2.5 was quantified from 2.5 to 6.2 ng/m 3 , including benzo[a]pyrene, 0.1–0.7 ng/m 3 . The composition of the PAHs fraction varied with the sampling location, that is, the pollution source characteristics. The domination of PAHs with molecular mass over 252, for example in decreasing order, Benzo[ghi]perylene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, Benzo[e]pyrene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene and Coronene in a busy traffic and industrial area of Tallinn gives an evidence that the non-road transport and treatment of stored fuel of a cargo port are significant source of emission.
Financial support from the project EST-02/003 according to bilateral cooperation in science and technology (WTZ) between Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany and Ministry of Education and Research, Estonia as well as Estonian Science Foundation (grants No. 5130 and 5387) is gratefully acknowledged.
The authors are thankful to University of Tartu (Estonia) for providing the IMPROVE sampler, Dr. S. Schulte-Hostede and Mr. M. Kört for support, Dr. J. Lintelmann and MSc. D. Antkowiak for the advice and support, Mrs. P. Laas, Mr. J. Adamson, and Mr. K. Adamson for technical assistance. We remember Reinhard Widera, his kind help and positive attitude in sampling episodes.