Monitoring of Long-Term Outdoor Concentrations of PAHs with Passive Air Samplers and Comparison with Meteorological Data.
The passive air sampler (PAS) is a common and useful tool for the sampling of semivolatile organic compounds in the ambient air. In a study performed in a semirural area of Bursa, sampling of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), was completed between February 4, 2013, and February 3, 2014, during 10-, 20-, 30-, 40- and 60 day periods for 1 year. To determine polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH) concentrations, 3 PASs and 1 high-volume air sampler were run simultaneously, and sampling rates (R [m(3)/d]) were calculated seasonally and according to the ring numbers of the PAHs. R values varied from 0.66 to 22.41 m(3)/d. The relationship of these values with meteorological conditions was examined statistically, and the regressions performed were found to be consistent. This study identified 15 PAH compounds [Formula: see text]. Concentration values of 10 day samples fluctuated from 6.4 to 1100 ng/m(3). Seasonal averages of the concentrations of ∑15PAHs were detected to be 141 ± 72.5 ng/m(3) for winter, 74 ± 59 ng/m(3) for spring, 7 ± 0.6 ng/m(3) for summer and 840 ± 170 ng/m(3) for autumn. In this study, the toxicity equivalents of seasonal PAH concentrations obtained were determined to be 0.5, 0.3, 0.1, and 1.8 ng/m(3) in winter, spring, summer and fall, respectively. The type posing a cancer risk has been identified as BaA.
Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Uludag University, 16059, Nilüfer, Bursa, Turkey.
Y Mine
YM
Evci
Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Uludag University, 16059, Nilüfer, Bursa, Turkey. payan@uludag.edu.tr.
Fatma
F
Esen
Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Uludag University, 16059, Nilüfer, Bursa, Turkey.
Yücel
Y
Taşdemir
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons