title: Characterization of the ambient air content of parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Fort McKay region (Canada).
abstract: This study presents the characterization of the gas-particle partition and size distribution of seven parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air samples collected in the proximity of oil sands exploration and compares their time-integrated concentration levels with nineteen analogous oxidation products - quinones. Gas-phase (GP) and particle-phase (PM) ambient air aerosol samples that were collected separately in summer for either 24 h or 12 h (day and night) revealed a higher PAH partition in the GP than in the PM, with the distribution over tenfold higher for light over heavy PAHs. Diurnal/nocturnal samples demonstrated that night conditions lead to lower concentrations, linking some of the sources of these compounds with daytime activity emissions. PAHs were observed to transform more efficiently in the GP, and quinone levels increased in the PM with time. Correlation data indicated that parent PAHs originated from primary emission sources associated with oil sand activities and that quinone formation paralleled a reduction in PAH levels. The findings of this study shed new light on characterization of PAHs in the Athabasca oil sands region.
authors.affiliation: Analysis and Air Quality Section, Air Quality Research Division, Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 335 River Rd., Ottawa, ON, K1V 1C7, Canada. Electronic address: andrzej.wnorowski@canada.ca.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wnorowski
mesh_terms: D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002170:Canada; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Diurnal/nocturnal variations; Gas-particle partition; PAHs; Quinones; Secondary aerosol; Size distribution