Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Atmosphere of Two Subtropical Cities in Southeast China: Seasonal Variation and Gas/Particle Partitioning

Abstract

Eighteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in the gas and particle phase from four sites in two cities, Quanzhou and Xiamen, in Southeast China during January (winter), March (spring), August (summer) and November (fall) 2010. The total concentration in the gas phase ranged from 10.7 ± 2.4 to 507.8 ± 57.0 ng/m 3 , while in the particle phase between 1.4 ± 0.5 and 46.5 ± 19.1 ng/m 3 . The levels of total PAHs (gas + particle) were lower than those recorded for Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China. The seasonal variations of particle phase PAHs were similar to those cities, with high levels in fall-winter and low levels in spring-summer. However, much higher levels of gas phase PAHs were found in summer. Results of correlation studies illustrated that total suspended particle concentrations, ambient temperature and atmospheric mixing height had significant impact on the concentrations of atmospheric PAHs and accounted for the observed seasonal variations. Phenanthrene and fluorine were the most abundant compounds in the urban atmosphere during the sampling period, accounting for approximately 38.9 ± 12.4 and 15.3 ± 6.9%, respectively, of the total PAHs. A good positive relationship was obtained in the log-log plot of K p (the gas to particle partitioning coefficient) against P 0 L (the sub-cooled vapor pressure) with a shallow slope (from -0.836 to -0.6742) greater than -1. Potential sources of PAHs were investigated using diagnostic ratios, which reflected the major sources such as vehicular emissions and coal combustion, although other sources such as direct emissions from industrial activities and evaporation from urban soil and road dust also contributed. The cancer risk from residential oral exposure to atmospheric PAHs in Quanzhou was higher than that in Xiamen, which was much higher than the US EPA risk management criterion (1 × 10 -6 ) during the fall-winter sampling period.

POPs in a major conurbation in Turkey: ambient air concentrations, seasonal variation, inhalation and dermal exposure, and associated carcinogenic risks

“…The similar seasonal trend also occurred for inhalation exposure with the ratio of heating/non-heating period of 4.03. Wu et al (2014) analyzed PAH samples collected from Quanzhou and Xiamen, Southeast China. The ratios of inhalation risk in winter to summer at three sampling sites ranged from 2.13 to 2.63, whereas this ratio was 23.65 at a fourth site.…”

“…The ratios of inhalation risk in winter to summer at three sampling sites ranged from 2.13 to 2.63, whereas this ratio was 23.65 at a fourth site. The seasonal differences are most probably due to increased combustion emissions in heating period and meteorological conditions such as lower mixing height, sunlight intensity, and thermal-and photo-decomposition (Devi et al 2013;Liu et al 2014;Wu et al 2014). Carcinogenic risks due to PAH exposures have been studied extensively compared to PCBs and OCPs.…”

Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Iron and Black Carbon within Street Dust from a Steel Industrial City, Central China

“…A Flu/ (Flu + Pyr) ratiois used to distinguish petroleum (< 0.40) and (> 0.50) combustionsources, while a Flu/(Flu + Pyr) ratio 0.40-0.50 is more characteristic of petroleum combustion (traffic emission) (Menezes and Cardeal, 2012). A BaA/ (BaA + Chr) ratio < 0.20 is indicative of petrogenic origins, > 0.35 is indicative of combustion origins, while 0.20-0.35 suggests mixed origins (Yunker et al, 2002;Wu et al, 2014;Kamal et al, 2016).…”

Distribution and Sources of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at an Industrial Region in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

“…Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) consist of two or more benzene rings are generated from anthropogenic activities such as incomplete combustion and/or pyrosynthesis of organic compounds, and partly from natural combustion Wu et al, 2014;Cheruiyot et al, 2015;Tiwari et al, 2015). The major sources of PAHs are heating (coal, oil, gas and wood), petroleum refinery, coke production, fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, steel and iron furnaces, incinerators, and vehicles (Chen et al, 2014;Li et al, 2014b;Huang et al, 2015;Mwangi et al, 2015a;b;Qin et al, 2015).…”