Patterns in airborne polynuclear hydrocarbon concentrations at four Los Angeles sites

Abstract

Simultaneous sampling for airborne particulate matter was carried out at four Los Angeles locations for one year. A composite for the year at each site was extracted and analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and lead. The yields of total particulate mass, benzene solubles, lead, and coronene paralleled the estimated traffic densities at the four sites. A number of PAH, other than coronene, did not parallel traffic density. The PAH patterns, normalized to coronene, were similar for three sites and to a fair degree, resembled patterns for auto exhaust previously published. The fourth site had a distinctly different pattern, reflecting local sources of nonautomotive PAH. Absolute levels of PAH are much below those found before imposition of stationary source emission controls, but have not changed much further since the late 1950's.Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) associated with airborne particles are believed to arise mainly as products of combustion (Badger, 1962). Their concentrations in the air may be high in areas where coal and fuel oil are used for space heating and power generation (Sawicki et al., 1962), but they are also observed in automobile exhaust (Hoffman and Wynder, 1962). Since no coal is used in Los Angeles and much of the heat and power are derived from natural gas, it was of interest to compare the atmospheric PAH patterns at several locations there with those in auto exhaust. PAH have been measured previously in Los Angeles and several other cities (Kotin et al., 1954;Sawicki et al., 1962). A current study was also of interest for comparison with the earlier work. A program of large-volume air sampling for carcinogenesis studies offered an opportunity for this comparison.

Association of soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels and anthropogenic impacts in a rapidly urbanizing region: Spatial distribution, soil–air exchange and ecological risk

“…By comparison, the mean concentration (304 ng/g) of soil ∑ 15 PAH in the central PRD and PRD's periphery in 2010 was twice as that in 2000 (158 ng/g) (Yu et al, 2007). Furthermore, coronene concentrations were correlated well with traffics intensities (Gordon and Bryan, 1973). The same pattern was also observed in the present study, i.e., a strong linear correlation between the coronene concentrations and number of civil vehicles based on geographic regions (r 2 = 0.99, p b 0.05; Fig.…”

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the airborne particulate matter at a location 40km north of Bangkok, Thailand

“…Relatively high concentrations of BghiP and COR on particulate matters are reported to be markers of vehicular emissions (Gordon and Bryan, 1973;Greenberg et al, 1981;Kiss et al, 1996). Harrison et al (1996) noted that BghiP and COR are indicative for gasoline while PHE and benzo(b)naphtho(2,1-d)thiophene (BNT) for diesel vehicles.…”

Compounds in Airborne Participates: Salts and Hydrocarbons

“…However, the values observed are valid measures of the specific concentrations within the site area. With these reservations we list typical average values found recently in Los Angeles, 29 Lyon, 30 Rome, 31 and Budapest 32 with values found in Cleveland as an indication of the levels to which people there are exposed (Table V). It appears that Cleveland average concentrations are not substantially different from other cities where measurements have been made.…”