AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Azaarenes in Atmospheric Particulate Matter Samples of Three Different Urban Sites in East of France
OLIVIER DELHOMME, Maurice Millet, University of Strasbourg
Abstract Number: 640 Working Group: Urban Aerosols
Abstract Air samples collected on three different urban sites in East of France (Strasbourg, Besançon and Spicheren), were characterized to measure the concentrations of azaarenes in the particulate phase (PM10). In general, the sources of azaarenes are largely analogous to those of PAHs, namely vehicle exhausts, coal burning, bitumen spreading and tobacco smoking. Azaarenes are found along with the PAHs in respirable particulate matter from ambient air and primary sources. Some members of azaarenes, particularly four- and five-ring compounds, are known carcinogens and mutagens, and also are of particular interest to the environmental analytical community.
In order to compare the seasonal variability, the sampling campaigns have been performed during the four seasons in Strasbourg, and during two opposed seasons (summer and winter) in Besançon and in Spicheren. Moreover, the sampling campaigns have been performed during 6 h time intervals per day to assess the diurnal variations of azaarenes concentrations. Mean total azaarenes concentrations were 2.8 ng m-3 in Strasbourg, 1.6 ng m-3 in Besançon and 1.0 ng m-3 in Spicheren. For all azaarenes, significantly seasonal variability was found in the three sampling sites, with highest concentration in winter period when combustion sources are greatest and when the azaarenes compounds are mainly associated with the particles phase. A diurnal variation of compound concentrations in the three sites, in warm period, has been observed in accordance with the intensity of the vehicle circulation, with highest concentrations during the morning and the evening. In cold period, there is no difference of concentration between these two time intervals of high vehicle circulation in Strasbourg site and in Besançon site. In this way, it seems that the contribution of domestic heating influenced the diurnal variations of some compounds on the three sites.