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RELATIONSHIP APPRAISAL OF PAHs IN AN URBAN ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL WITH METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, POLLUTION SOURCES AND OTHER POLLUTANTS
Abstract
The atmosphere is one of the environmental components, which living organisms utilize the most. However, in large urban agglomerations, the air often contains substances that can be dangerous to human health and ecosystems, especially if their concentrations exceed the legal norms. Although the mechanism of impact of the individual chemical compounds (SO2, NO2, O3, benzene, etc.), considered as pollutants is well known, it is still a challenge to clarify the composition and impact of the particulate matters, especially those with aerodynamic diameter bellow 2.5 microns (PM2.5). The objective of the current study, performed in the frame of project “CARBOAEROSOL”, is to determine the concentration of nineteen PAHs in airborne PM2.5 collected in the largest city in Bulgaria, i.e. Sofia, as a capital with a population of millions, and to establish their correlation with the meteorological parameters and other pollutants and to distinguish eventual sources of pollution. This study is of a particular interest as such detailed investigations with regards to PAHs have not been performed for Bulgaria. PM2.5 samplings, performed in wintertime, 2021, are conducted according to the standard EN 12341:2014. The subsequent analysis of PM2.5 bound PAHs is performed by GC–MS/MS in the Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode. The obtained results reveal that for the sampling period total PM2.5 bound PAHs concentrations are in the range of 1.87 - 38.47 ng/m3, with an average ?PAHs concentration of 15.3±11.6 ng/m3 and an average ?BaPTEQ and ?BaPMEQ of 1.84 ±1.41 ng/m3 and 1.94 ±1.48 ng/m3, respectively. With regards to the relationship of PM2.5 bound PAHs to meteorological conditions and other pollutants, statistically significant correlations are found with pressure, temperature and dew point and benzene, NO2, NOx, CO and PM2.5 concentrations. Indicative data on pollution sources have also been obtained.
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References2
WHO, J. N., Gerlofs-Nijland, M., Lanki, T., Salonen, R., and Cassee, F. , 2012. Health Effects of Black Carbon, Bonn: WHO Regional Office for Europe, The WHO European Centre for Environment and Health.
Hristova E, Veleva B, Georgieva E, Branzov H. Application of Positive Matrix Factorization Receptor Model for Source Identification of PM10 in the City of Sofia, Bulgaria. Atmosphere. 2020; 11(9):890. DOI: 10.3390/atmos11090890
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