Variación temporal de nitro-HAPs asociados a partículas PM2.5 en la atmosfera de las ciudades de Cuernavaca y Cuautla

Abstract

Due to the damage they cause to the health of the population as a result of their composition, PM2.5 is a very important indicator of air quality in urban areas. Some polycyclic aromatic nitro-hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) associated with the particles have been observed to be mutagenic and carcinogenic. In order to observe the variation of the concentration at different times of the year, the nitro-HAPs in PM2.5 emitted in the city of Cuernavaca during the period from March 2016 to August 2018 and for Cuautla during the period of April 2017 to December 2018. It is reported that the lowest concentration of nitro-PAHs occurred in the rainy season (LL), with a median of 63.82 pg / m-3 for Cuernavaca and 90.67 pg / m-3 for Cuautla. It was hypothesized that Cuernavaca during the dry-cold season (SF) was the one with the highest concentration of nitro-PAHs, however, no significant difference was found (p <0.05) with respect to the dry-hot season (SC). The median concentrations in the SC and Seseasons were 116.41 pg m-3 and 128.99 pg m-3, respectively. However, in Cuautla significant differences (p <0.05) were observed between the SF and SC periods. Median concentrations for SC were 280.74 pg m-3 and for SF 156.61 pg m-3. 1-Nitronaphthalene, 2-Nitrofentranene, 2-Nitroanthracene, and 2-Nitrofluoranthene were the most abundant compounds present at both sites. Nitro-HaPs showed significant correlations (p <0.05) with relative humidity and wind speed, as well as with some criteria pollutants. 1-Nitronaphthalene, 2-Nitronaphthalene, 2-Nitrofluorene, and 3-Nitrofluoren are classified by IARC as possible carcinogens for humans, these compounds were found in the three seasons in the cities of Cuernavaca and Cuautla.