Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in U. K. Urban air

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00062a024· OSTI ID:6644634

Halsall, C J; Burnett, V; Waterhouse, K S; Jones, K C ^[1]; Coleman, P J; Davis, B J ^[2]; Harding-Jones, P ^[3]

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1. Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom)
2. Warren Spring Lab., Stevenage (United Kingdom)
3. Rechem Environmental Research, Southampton (United Kingdom)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) data for the first two years (January 1991-December 1992) of a national urban air monitoring scheme in the U.K. are presented. Urban sample sites were operated in the cities of London, Manchester, and Cardiff and in the light industrial town of Stevenage. Both the particulate and vapor phases of 15 PAHs were sampled using high-volume air samplers at roof-top level (approximately 25 m). London, the largest urban center, had the highest annual mean [Sigma]PAH concentrations of 166 ng/m[sup 3] in 1991. Phenanthrene and fluorene dominated the total PAH at each site and were present predominantly in the vapor phase throughout the year. The heavier PAHs (MW > 250) were present on the collected particulate and showed a distinct seasonal variation (winter > summer). PAH profiles were similar at each site, even though the conurbations were different in size, indicating sources common to each site. Specific atmospheric contamination episodes, associated with particular meteorological conditions, were identified throughout the 2-year period. NO[sub 2] concentrations were obtained for the Manchester site for 1991. Weak correlations (P [le] 0.05) were found to exist between elevated NO[sub 2] concentrations and particulate-benzo[a]pyrene and [Sigma]PAH concentrations. 40 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6644634
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Vol. 28:13; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
URBAN AREAS
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
BENZOPYRENE
COMPILED DATA
DUSTS
FLUORENE
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
PHENANTHRENE
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
QUALITY CONTROL
UNITED KINGDOM
VAPORS
AROMATICS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONDENSED AROMATICS
CONTROL
DATA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EUROPE
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
WESTERN EUROPE
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties