title: Particulate PAHs and n-alkanes in the air over Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
abstract: Particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, n-alkanes and polar organic compounds were investigated in the marine atmosphere of Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Sea, in the frame of the scientific cruise of Urania ship between 27 July and 11 August 2013. The PM10 fraction of aerosol to which most organic substances are associated, were collected daily; contemporarily, gaseous regulated toxicants (ozone, nitrogen oxides and carbon oxide) and carbonyls were recorded. Samplings were carried out in front of Palermo and Messina, respectively the start and end harbors, and along the cruise, both in movement (transects, N = 14) and at stops (N = 11). Total PAHs ranged from 0.06 ng/m(3) up to 1.8 ng/m(3), with the maximums observed close to harbors. Unlike total concentrations that were in general comparable, the percent composition of PAHs was distinct for harbors, transects and stops, which allowed to draw insights about the pollution sources impact. Concentrations of n-alkanes (C18-C35) ranging from 6.7 to 43 ng/m(3) were quantified. The carbonyls evaluation revealed relatively high concentrations of formaldehyde (∼4-24 μg/m(3)) and acetone (∼5-35 μg/m(3)) near harbors, and of acrolein (up to 12 μg/m(3)) offshore, while benzaldehyde was quite independent of the site type (≈0.5 μg/m(3)). Nicotine and caffeine were detected, at different extents (0.0-2.2 ng/m(3) and 0.01-0.17 ng/m(3), respectively), in ca. 70% and 100% of samples. Alkyl phthalates ranged from 2.7 to 67 ng/m(3) and showed variable percentages in the samples. Finally, traces of N,N-diethyl-meta-toluene amide (up to 0.4 ng/m(3)) were found at all sites.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria km 29.3, P.O. Box 10, I-00015, Monterotondo RM, Italy. Electronic address: romagnoli@iia.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria km 29.3, P.O. Box 10, I-00015, Monterotondo RM, Italy.
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balducci
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria km 29.3, P.O. Box 10, I-00015, Monterotondo RM, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perilli
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria km 29.3, P.O. Box 10, I-00015, Monterotondo RM, Italy.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perreca
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria km 29.3, P.O. Box 10, I-00015, Monterotondo RM, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cecinato
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000473:Alkanes; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D010126:Ozone; C032279:phthalic acid; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Airborne particulates; Marine atmosphere; Mediterranean Sea; PAHs