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An Exploratory Study of Particulate PAHs in Low-Polluted Urban and Rural Areas of Southwest Spain: Concentrations, Source Assignment, Seasonal Variation and Correlations with Other Air Pollutants

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Abstract

A set of 72 PM10 samples from low-polluted urban and rural locations belonging to the regional air monitoring network of Extremadura (Spain) were collected in a 1 year sampling period. Sample pre-treatment and analytical determination by gas chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry were optimised and validated for the analysis of the priority 16 US Environmental Protection Agency polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The influence of meteorological conditions (temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation) and other atmospheric pollutants (O3, NO2, SO2, PM10) has been covered in detail and Pearson correlation test were used for this purpose. Spatial distribution of particulate PAHs was evaluated and the comparison with other European sites was also established. Possible emission sources were identified and assigned by using molecular diagnostic criteria.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the air quality surveillance network of Extremadura, Spain (Junta de Extremadura, Consejería de Industria Energía y Medioambiente) for financial support and for providing the aerosol samples. Financial support was also received from Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional al Desarrollo (AECID), project D/023184/09. E. Bernalte acknowledges a grant from Junta de Extremadura, Spain (PRE09107).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas, s/n, 06006, Badajoz, Spain

    Elena Bernalte, Carmen Marín Sánchez & Eduardo Pinilla Gil

  2. Laboratorio de Química Ambiental (LQA), Centro de Tecnologías Ambientales (CETAM), Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Casilla 110-V, Valparaíso, Chile

    Francisco Cereceda Balic & Víctor Vidal Cortez

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  1. Elena Bernalte
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  2. Carmen Marín Sánchez
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  4. Francisco Cereceda Balic
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  5. Víctor Vidal Cortez
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Correspondence to Elena Bernalte.

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Bernalte, E., Marín Sánchez, C., Pinilla Gil, E. et al. An Exploratory Study of Particulate PAHs in Low-Polluted Urban and Rural Areas of Southwest Spain: Concentrations, Source Assignment, Seasonal Variation and Correlations with Other Air Pollutants. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 5143–5154 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-012-1266-6

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