10th International Aerosol Conference September 2 - September 7, 2018 America's Center Convention Complex St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in Urban New York
HAIDER A KHWAJA, Zafar Aminov, Wen Yuan, Mirza M. Hussain, Shannon Foote, Wadsworth Center, University at Albany
Abstract Number: 987 Working Group: Aerosol Exposure
Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that are formed in combustion processes of carbonaceous materials at high temperatures. Because many of them and their analogues are strongly potent carcinogens and/ or mutagens, the occurrence and fate of PAHs in the environment is of great interest. Concentrations of PAHs adsorbed to respirable fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were determined from two urban sites in New York viz., Botanical Gardens, New York City and Empire State Plaza, Albany. PM2.5 samples were collected using high-volume sampler on quartz filters over 24 h sampling period. Samples were extracted using soxhlet extraction technique and analyzed by GC/MS. Total PAH concentrations at New York City and Albany ranged 275 – 2821 pg/m3 and 259 – 2069 pg/m3 , respectively. Concentrations of PAHs at these two urban sites are comparable to those found in Los Angeles, California. In urban areas, vehicular emissions are likely to be the primary contributor to PAH concentrations with additional local contributors like cooking fuels and industrial emissions. Among the 23 PAHs, benzo[g,h,i]perylene was the most abundant PAH at both sites. It contributed 11 – 23% to the sum of PAHs. The trend of the concentrations of the major PAHs found in the present study were benzo[g,h,i]perylene > benzo[b]fluoranthene > indeno[1,2,3,c-d] pyrene > benzo[e]pyrene > fluoranthene > pyrene > benzo[a]pyrene > phenanthrene > chrysene > benzo[k]fluoranthene > naphthalene. Most common PAHs (benzo[g,h,i]perylene, fluoranthene, pyrene, phenanthrene, and. benzo[b]fluoranthene are associated with diesel and gasoline exhaust particles. The large amount of benzo[a]pyrene in the ambient samples is likely from wood burning. Levels of seven PAH considered as possible or probable carcinogenic (benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3,c-d]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene represented a significant portion of the PAH contained in PM2.5 . Using published relative carcinogenic potency factors for individual PAH, the proportion of carcinogenic potential represented by benzo[a]pyrene was evaluated. Results suggest the suitability of benzo[a]pyrene as a marker for the carcinogenic potential of the PAH mixture in ambient air.