Monitoring for PAH and criteria pollutants in Contra Costa County, CA, 1979-1986

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Proceedings, Annual Meeting, Air Pollution Control Association; (USA)

OSTI ID:5053752

Flessel, P ^[1]; Levaggi, D A ^[2]

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1. California Dept. of Health Services, Berkeley, CA (USA)
2. Bay Area Air Quality Management District, San Francisco, CA (USA)

Concentrations of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were monitored in ambient air at three locations in Contra Costa County from November 1979 through October 1986. Benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), benzo(k)fluoranthene(BkF) and benzo(ghi)perylene(BghiP) concentrations as wells as criteria pollutants were measured concurrently at the same locations. This report describes seasonal variations and seven-year trends. PAH and most criteria pollutant concentrations were highest in the winter, when ventilation in the Bay Area is the lowest. Statistically significant downward trend in annual average concentrations of lead (Pb), sulfates (SO{sub 4}{sup -}), total suspended particulates (TSP) and ozone (O{sub 3}) were observed. The decrease in lead was especially dramatic and widespread, averaging about 20% per year and occurring in every season and at every station. In contrast, CO concentrations increased at an annual rate of about 6%; mobile sources probably were responsible for the increase in CO. In general, PAH concentrations did not change greatly. However, increases in benzo(a)pyrene were seen.

• OSTI ID: 5053752
• Report Number(s): CONF-870695--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proceedings, Annual Meeting, Air Pollution Control Association; (USA) Journal Volume: 6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
AROMATICS
BENZOPYRENE
CALIFORNIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION III
FEDERAL REGION IX
HYDROCARBONS
LEAD
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PENNSYLVANIA
PITTSBURGH
POLLUTION SOURCES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
USA
VARIATIONS