title: An evaluation of uncertainty associated to analytical measurements of selected polycyclic aromatic compounds in ambient air.
abstract: This paper presents an evaluation of uncertainty associated to analytical measurement of 18 polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in ambient air by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC/FD). The study was focused on analyses of PM(10), PM(2.5) and gas phase fractions. Main analytical uncertainty was estimated for 11 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), four nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) and two hydroxy-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) based on the analytical determination, reference material analysis and extraction step. Main contributions reached 15-30% and came from extraction process of real ambient samples, being those for nitro-PAHs the highest (20-30%). Range and mean concentration of selected PACs measured in gas phase and PM(10)/PM(2.5) particle fractions during a full year are also presented. Concentrations of OH-PAHs were about 2-4 orders of magnitude lower than their parent PAHs and comparable to those sparsely reported in literature.
authors.affiliation: Chromatography unity, Department of Technology, CIEMAT. Avda. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Barrado-Olmedo
authors.forename: Rosa María
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pérez-Pastor
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García-Alonso
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D035501:Uncertainty
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds