Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Concentration, distribution and source apportionment of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the southeast suburb of Beijing, China

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Total suspended particle samples and gas phase samples were collected at three representative sampling sites in the southeastern suburb of Beijing from March 2005 to January 2006. The samples were analyzed for 16 US EPA priority PAHs using GC/MS. Concentrations of ∑PAHs in particle and gas phases were 0.21–1.18 × 103 ng m−3 and 9.5 × 102 ng–1.03 × 105 ng m−3, respectively. PAH concentrations displayed seasonal variation in the order of winter>spring>autumn>summer for particle phase, and winter>autumn>summer>spring for gas phase. Partial correlation analysis indicates that PAH concentrations in particle phase are negatively correlated with temperature and positively correlated with air pollution index of SO2. No significant correlation is observed between gas phase PAHs and the auxiliary parameters. Sources of PAH are identified through principal component analysis, and source contributions are estimated through multiple linear regression. Major sources of atmospheric PAHs in the study area include coal combustion, coke industry, vehicular emission and natural gas combustion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Bi, X., Sheng, G., Peng, P., Chen, Y., Zhang, Z., & Fu, J. (2003). Distribution of particulate- and vapor-phase n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban atmosphere of Guangzhou, China. Atmospheric Environment, 37, 289–298.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chetwittayachan, T., Shimazaki, D., & Yamamoto, K. (2002). A comparison of temporal variation of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pPAHs) concentration in different urban environments: Tokyo, Japan, and Bangkok, Thailand. Atmospheric Environment, 36, 2027–2037.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, J., Hu, M., Chan, C. K., Lau, P. S., Fang, M., He, L., et al. (2006). A comparative study of the organic matter in PM2.5 from three Chinese megacities in three different climatic zones. Atmospheric Environment, 40, 3983–3994.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, R. M., Smith, D. J. T., & Luhana, L. (1996). Source apportionment of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons collected from an urban location in Birmingham, U.K. Environmental Science and Technology, 30, 825–832.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaupp, H., & McLachlan, M. S. (1999). Atmospheric particle size distributions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their implications for wet and dry deposition. Atmospheric Environment, 33, 85–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kavouras, I. G., Koutrakis, P., Tsapakis, M., Lagoudaki, E., Stephanou, E. G., Bear, D. V., et al. (2001). Source apportionment of urban particulate aliphatic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using multivariate methods. Environmental Science and Technology, 35, 2288–2294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y. N., Tao, S., Dou, H., Zhang, T. W., Zhang, X. L., & Dawson, R. (2007). Exposure of traffic police to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Beijing, China. Chemosphere, 66, 1922–1928.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., Zhu, L., & Shen, X. (2001). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor and outdoor air of Hangzhou, China. Environmental Science and Technology, 35, 840–844.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mandalakis, M., Tsapakis, M., Tsoga, A., & Stephanou, E. G. (2002). Gas–particle concentrations and distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbons, PAHs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs in the atmosphere of Athens (Greece). Atmospheric Environment, 36, 4023–4035.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nisbet, C., & LaGoy, P. (1992). Toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 16, 290–300.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohura, T., Amagai, T., Sugiyama, T., Fusaya, M., & Matsushita, H. (2004). Characteristics of particle matter and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor and outdoor air in two cities in Shizuoka, Japan. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 2045–2054.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panther, B. C., Hooper, M. A., & Tapper, N. J. (1999). A comparison of air particulate matter and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some tropical and temperate urban environments. Atmospheric Environment, 33, 4087–4099.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poor, N., Trembley, R., Kay, H., Bhethanabotla, V., Swartz, E., Luther, M., et al. (2004). Atmospheric concentrations and dry deposition rates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 6005–6015.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ravindra, K., Bencs, L., Wauters, E., Hoog, J., Deutsch, F., Roekens, E., et al. (2006). Seasonal and site-specific variation in vapour and aerosol phase PAHs over Flanders (Belgium) and their relation with anthropogenic activities. Atmospheric Environment, 40, 771–785.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simcik, M. F., Eisenreich, S. J., & Lioy, P. J. (1999). Source apportionment and source/sink relationships of PAHs in the coastal atmosphere of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Atmospheric Environment, 33, 5071–5079.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, J. H., Bi, X. H., Duan, J. C., Rahn, K. A., Sheng, G. Y., & Fu, J. M. (2006). Seasonal variation of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with PM10 in Guangzhou, China. Atmospheric Research, 80, 250–262.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsapakis, M., & Stephanou, E. G. (2005). Occurrence of gaseous and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban atmosphere: Study of sources and ambient temperature effect on the gas/particle concentration and distribution. Environmental Pollution, 133, 147–156.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamasaki, H., Kazuhiro, K., & Hiroko, M. (1982). Effects of ambient temperature on aspects of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Environmental Science and Technology, 16(4), 189–194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, H. H., Chien, S. M., Chao, M. R., & Lin, C. C. (2005). Particle size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in motorcycle exhaust emissions. Journal of Hazardous Materials B, 125, 154–159.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xuejun Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, S., Zhang, W., Wang, K. et al. Concentration, distribution and source apportionment of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the southeast suburb of Beijing, China. Environ Monit Assess 151, 197–207 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0261-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0261-2

Keywords

Profiles

  1. Shucai Zhang