GAS-PARTICLE PARTITIONING OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER IN A SUBURBAN SITE NEAR MAJOR TRAFFIC ARTERIES

Abstract

Concentrations of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were measured in a suburban site near major traffic arteries during the period April-August 2006. Total suspended particulate during the sampling period was 65.3 ± 33.9 μ g m⁻³. Total PAH concentrations were 63.5 ± 20.1 ng m⁻³ in the gaseous phase and 1.4 ± 0.3 ng m⁻³ in the particulate phase. Observed concentrations were comparable with previously measured values reported in the literature for urban and suburban sites with a high anthropic influence. PAH concentration diagnostic ratios indicate that, during the spring and summer seasons, vehicular emission was the main source of atmospheric PAHs.

Gas/particle partitioning coefficients K _P were well correlated with both the sub-cooled liquid vapor pressures p _L ⁰ and the octanol-air partition coefficients K _OA . Measured K _P values were in a good agreement with K _P values predicted by applying a literature model, which takes into account both adsorption onto black carbon and absorption into the organic matter.

Keywords:

• atmospheric concentration
• diagnostic ratio
• gas-particle partition
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

Notes

(∗) Benzo(j)fluoranthene reference value is included because it had the same retention time of B(b + k)F.

^(a)Kavouras et al., 2001;

^(b)Rogge et al., 1993a-b;

^(c)Pandey et al., 1999;

^(d)Caricchia et al., 1999;

^(e)Manoli et al., 2004;

^(f)Dickhut et al., 2000;

^(g)Sicre et al., 1987;

^(h)Khalili et al., 1995;

⁽ⁱ⁾Yunker et al., 2002;

^(l)Gogou et al., 1996;

^(m)Simcik et al., 1999;

⁽ⁿ⁾Sienra et al., 2005.