title: Particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the atmosphere of Bizerte city, Tunisia.
abstract: The particle-phase concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined in 13 air samples collected in an urban area of Bizerte (Tunisia) during 2009-2010. Atmospheric particulate samples were extracted by ultrasonic bath and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. PAH were found in all the analyzed air samples and the most abundant compounds were pyrene, fluoranthene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene. ∑14-PAH concentrations ranging from 9.38 to 44.81 ng m(-3) with mean value of 25.39 ng m(-3). PAH diagnostic ratio source analysis revealed gasoline and diesel vehicular emissions as major sources. The mean total benzo[a]pyrene toxicity equivalent calculated for samples was 3.66 ng m(-3) and the mean contribution of the carcinogenic potency of benzo[a]pyrene was determined to be 55.8 %. Concentrations of particulate PAH in Bizerte city atmosphere were approximately eight times greater than sampled at a nearby rural site.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Analytical Chemistry (05/UR/12-03), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021, Zarzouna, Bizerte, Tunisia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Hassine
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ben Ameur
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El Megdiche
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barhoumi
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Driss
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000032:analysis; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D002911:Chrysenes / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D005742:Gasoline / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis; D014416:Tunisia; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002273:Carcinogens; D002911:Chrysenes; D005742:Gasoline; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; C031180:chrysene