engleski

PAHs in PM1 particle fraction at an urban location in Croatia

Airborne particles are composed of inorganic species and organic compounds. PM1 particles, with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 1 μm, are considered to be important in the context of adverse health effects. The mass concentration of particulate matter (PM) is not the only important parameter for the assessment of health risks of atmospheric pollution. Many compounds bound to particulate matter, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), are suspected to be genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. In this study, PAHs in PM1 particle fraction were measured during one year (1/1/2018–31/12/2018). The measuring station was located in the northern residential part of Zagreb, the Croatian capital, close to a street with modest traffic. We collected 24-hour samples of PM1 particle fraction on quartz filters from about 55 m3 air using a low-volume sampler. The analysis was performed using a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) with a fluorescence detector. Significant differences were found between PAH concentrations during cold (January- March, October-December) and warm (April-September) periods of the year. During the cold period, BbF had the highest mass concentrations (0.215–3.412 ng m-3), while during the warm period the highest mass concentrations was recorded for BghiP (0.067– 0.277 ng m-3). During both periods, DahA had the lowest mass concentrations. The average monthly mass concentrations of BaP ranged from 0.038 ng m-3 in June to 2.826 ng m-3 in December (the annual average was 0.765 ng m-3). In general, during the whole year mass concentrations of PAH characteristic for car exhaust (BghiP, IP, BbF) were higher than concentrations of Flu and Pyr, which originate mostly from domestic heating and biomass burning.

BaP ; HPLC ; Carcinogenic ; Diagnostic ratio

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