title: Assessing Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) using passive air sampling in the atmosphere of one of the most wood-smoke-polluted cities in Chile: The case study of Temuco.
abstract: This study addresses human health concerns in the city of Temuco that are attributed to wood smoke and related pollutants associated with wood burning activities that are prevalent in Temuco. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in air across urban and rural sites over three seasons in Temuco using polyurethane foam (PUF) disk passive air samplers (PUF-PAS). Concentrations of ΣPAHs (15 congeners) in air ranged from BDL to ∼70 ng m(-3) and were highest during the winter season, which is attributed to emissions from residential heating by wood combustion. The results for all three seasons showed that the PAH plume was widespread across all sites including rural sites on the outskirts of Temuco. Some interesting variations were observed between seasons in the composition of PAHs, which were attributed to differences in seasonal point sources. A comparison of the PAH composition in the passive samples with active samples (gas+particle phase) from the same site revealed similar congener profiles. Overall, the study demonstrated that the PUF disk passive air sampler provides a simple approach for measuring PAHs in air and for tracking effectiveness of pollution control measures in urban areas in order to improve public health.
authors.affiliation: RECETOX Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Kamenice 3/126, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile. Electronic address: kpozo@ucsc.cl.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Estellano
authors.affiliation: Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment Canada, 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4, Canada.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harner
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile; Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diaz-Robles
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnologías Ambientales (CETAM), Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cereceda-Balic
authors.affiliation: Secretaría Regional Ministerial del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, Región de La Araucanía, Chile.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Etcharren
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Katerine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnologías Ambientales (CETAM), Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnologías Ambientales (CETAM), Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile.
authors.forename: Fabián
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de los Andes, Chile.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vergara-Fernández
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere; D002677:Chile; D002947:Cities; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011786:Quality Control; D012621:Seasons; D012906:Smoke; D014887:Weather; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012906:Smoke
keywords: PAHs; PUF disk; Public health; Temuco; Wood combustion