Comparison of the Profiles of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Different Areas of a City by Glass-Capillary-Gas-Chromatography in the Nanogram-Range

Abstract

Abstract Since the PAH-mixture of different emittants such as coal heatings, oil heatings or gasoline engines are different and therefore characteristic, it is to be expected, that these PAH-profiles are helpful to recognize the main sources of an air pollution. Furthermore, this investigation compares the local concentrations of several selected PAH and records the temporary variation in PAH-profiles of different areas in a city during the year. The collecting system consists of a low volume air sampler, connected with a glass fibre filter (490cm2). To separate the mixture of PAH glass-capillary-gas-chromoatography is used and 15 PAH are selected for this investigation (splitless injection, Silicone OV 17). The repeatability of the total collecting procedure and for the analysis is satisfactory. Four areas have been selected inside the city: I. area with hand-stoked residential coal heatings, II. area with oil heatings preferentially, III. stations in a tunnel with automobile traffic, IV. area surrounding a coke plant. The PAH-profiles differ in many cases from area to area and the concentrations of all PAH regarded (including benzo(a)pyrene) vary strongly during the day, week and year on the same place, even during the heating period for the 16 collecting stations investigated monthly (e.g. in case of BaP at the same place from 1.6 ng/m3 to 299 ng/m3). Especially the distribution pattern of 4 PAH (BcPH, CYC, BghiP, COR) is completely different from the other PAH's recorded in the city. The first one correlates to the automobile traffic in the tunnel.