scholarly journals Nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – gas–particle partitioning, mass size distribution, and formation along transport in marine and continental background air

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 6257-6270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Lammel ◽  
Marie D. Mulder ◽  
Pourya Shahpoury ◽  
Petr Kukučka ◽  
Hana Lišková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Dispersion Model ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Particle Dispersion ◽  
Linear Free Energy Relationship ◽  
Lagrangian Particle ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Background Air

Abstract. Nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAH) are ubiquitous in polluted air but little is known about their abundance in background air. NPAHs were studied at one marine and one continental background site, i.e. a coastal site in the southern Aegean Sea (summer 2012) and a site in the central Great Hungarian Plain (summer 2013), together with the parent compounds, PAHs. A Lagrangian particle dispersion model was used to track air mass history. Based on Lagrangian particle statistics, the urban influence on samples was quantified for the first time as a fractional dose to which the collected volume of air had been exposed. At the remote marine site, the 3–4-ring NPAH (sum of 11 targeted species) concentration was 23.7 pg m−3 while the concentration of 4-ring PAHs (6 species) was 426 pg m−3. The most abundant NPAHs were 2-nitrofluoranthene (2NFLT) and 3-nitrophenanthrene. Urban fractional doses in the range of < 0.002–5.4 % were calculated. At the continental site, the Σ11 3–4-ring NPAH and Σ6 4-ring PAH were 58 and 663 pg m−3, respectively, with 9-nitroanthracene and 2NFLT being the most concentrated amongst the targeted NPAHs. The NPAH levels observed in the marine background air are the lowest ever reported and remarkably lower, by more than 1 order of magnitude, than 1 decade before. Day–night variation of NPAHs at the continental site reflected shorter lifetime during the day, possibly because of photolysis of some NPAHs. The yields of formation of 2NFLT and 2-nitropyrene (2NPYR) in marine air seem to be close to the yields for OH-initiated photochemistry observed in laboratory experiments under high NOx conditions. Good agreement is found for the prediction of NPAH gas–particle partitioning using a multi-phase poly-parameter linear free-energy relationship. Sorption to soot is found to be less significant for gas–particle partitioning of NPAHs than for PAHs. The NPAH levels determined in the south-eastern outflow of Europe confirm intercontinental transport potential.

scholarly journals Nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – gas-particle partitioning, mass size distribution, and formation along transport in marine and continental background air

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Lammel ◽  
Marie D. Mulder ◽  
Pourya Shahpoury ◽  
Petr Kukučka ◽  
Hana Lišková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Dispersion Model ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Particle Dispersion ◽  
Lagrangian Particle ◽  
Fractional Dose ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
A Site ◽  
Background Air

Abstract. Nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAH) are ubiquitous in polluted air but little is known about their abundance in background air. NPAHs were studied at one marine and one continental background site i.e., a coastal site in the southern Aegean Sea (summer 2012) and a site in the central Great Hungarian Plain (summer 2013), together with the parent compounds, PAHs. A Lagrangian particle dispersion model was used to track air mass history. Based on Lagrangian particle statistics, the urban influence on samples was quantified for the first time as a fractional dose to which the collected volume of air had been exposed to. At the remote marine site, the 3–4 ring nitro-PAH (sum of 11 targeted species, with 2-nitrofluoranthene (2NFLT) and 3-nitrophenanthrene being the most abundant) concentration was 23.7 pg m−3 while the concentration of 4-ring PAHs (6 species) was 426 pg m−3. Urban fractional doses in the range

scholarly journals Megacity emission plume characteristics in summer and winter investigated by mobile aerosol and trace gas measurements: the Paris metropolitan area

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 11249-11299 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-L. von der Weiden-Reinmüller ◽  
F. Drewnick ◽  
Q. J. Zhang ◽  
F. Freutel ◽  
M. Beekmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Gas Measurements ◽  
Background Air ◽  
Transformation Processes

Abstract. For the investigation of megacity emission plume characteristics mobile aerosol and trace gas measurements were carried out in the greater Paris region in July 2009 and January/February 2010 within the EU FP7 MEGAPOLI project. The deployed instruments measured physical and chemical properties of sub-micron aerosol particles, gas phase constituents of relevance for urban air pollution studies and meteorological parameters. The emission plume was identified based on fresh pollutant (e.g. particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon, CO2 and NOx) concentration changes in combination with wind direction data. The classification into megacity influenced and background air masses allowed a characterization of the emission plume during summer and winter environmental conditions. On average, a clear increase of fresh pollutant concentrations in plume compared to background air masses was found for both seasons. For example, an average increase of 190% (+8.8 ng m−3) in summer and of 130% (+18.1 ng m−3) in winter was found for particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in plume air masses. The aerosol particle size distribution in plume air masses was influenced by nucleation and growth due to coagulation and condensation in summer, while in winter only the second process seemed to be initiated by urban pollution. The observed distribution of fresh pollutants in the emission plume – its cross sectional Gaussian-like profile and the exponential decrease of pollutant concentrations with increasing distance to the megacity – are in agreement with model results. Differences between model and measurements were found for plume center location, plume width and axial plume extent. In general, dilution was identified as the dominant process determining the axial variations within the Paris emission plume. For in-depth analysis of transformation processes occurring in the advected plume, simultaneous measurements at a suburban measurement site and a stationary site outside the metropolitan area using the mobile laboratory have proven to be most useful. Organic aerosol oxidation was observed in summer, while in winter transformation processes seemed to occur at a slower rate.

scholarly journals Megacity emission plume characteristics in summer and winter investigated by mobile aerosol and trace gas measurements: the Paris metropolitan area

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 12931-12950 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-L. von der Weiden-Reinmüller ◽  
F. Drewnick ◽  
Q. J. Zhang ◽  
F. Freutel ◽  
M. Beekmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Gas Measurements ◽  
Background Air ◽  
Transformation Processes

Abstract. For the investigation of megacity emission plume characteristics mobile aerosol and trace gas measurements were carried out in the greater Paris region in July 2009 and January–February 2010 within the EU FP7 MEGAPOLI project (Megacities: Emissions, urban, regional and Global Atmospheric POLlution and climate effects, and Integrated tools for assessment and mitigation). The deployed instruments measured physical and chemical properties of sub-micron aerosol particles, gas phase constituents of relevance for urban air pollution studies and meteorological parameters. The emission plume was identified based on fresh pollutant (e.g., particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon, CO2 and NOx) concentration changes in combination with wind direction data. The classification into megacity influenced and background air masses allowed a characterization of the emission plume during summer and winter environmental conditions. On average, a clear increase of fresh pollutant concentrations in plume compared to background air masses was found for both seasons. For example, an average increase of 190% (+ 8.8 ng m−3) in summer and of 130% (+ 18.1 ng m−3) in winter was found for particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in plume air masses. The aerosol particle size distribution in plume air masses was influenced by nucleation and growth due to coagulation and condensation in summer, while in winter only the latter process (i.e., particle growth) seemed to be initiated by urban pollution. The observed distribution of fresh pollutants in the emission plume – its cross sectional Gaussian-like profile and the exponential decrease of pollutant concentrations with increasing distance to the megacity – are in agreement with model results. Differences between model and measurements were found for plume center location, plume width and axial plume extent. In general, dilution was identified as the dominant process determining the axial variations within the Paris emission plume. For in-depth analysis of transformation processes occurring in the advected plume, simultaneous measurements at a suburban measurement site and a stationary site outside the metropolitan area using the mobile laboratory have proven to be most useful. Organic aerosol oxidation was observed in summer, while in winter transformation processes seemed to occur at a slower rate.

scholarly journals Dissolved and Suspended Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in the North Aegean Sea

2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. HATZIANESTIS ◽  
E. SKLIVAGOU
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Ship Traffic ◽  
The North ◽  
Open Sea ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Bottom Waters ◽  
North Aegean ◽  
North Aegean Sea

The distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were investigated in the seawater of the North Aegean Sea. The measured PAH concentrations in SPM are generally considered as elevated for open sea waters and were evenly distributed in the area. Their levels in the dissolved phase (1.6-33.0 ng/l) were much higher than those encountered in the corresponding particulate phases (0.04-10.2 ng/l). The PAH patterns in both phases were dominated by the three ring aromatics and their alkylated derivatives, reflecting a predominant contribution of fossil hydrocarbons probably related to ship traffic, whereas no significant inputs from the rivers outfalling in the area were detected. In bottom waters PAH values were generally lower, whereas a higher depletion of the petroleum PAH in comparison with the pyrolytic ones according to depth was observed.

Monitoring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Northeast Aegean Sea using Posidonia oceanica seagrass and synthetic passive samplers

2014 ◽  
Vol 87 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 338-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-Venetia Apostolopoulou ◽  
Els Monteyne ◽  
Konstantinos Krikonis ◽  
Kosmas Pavlopoulos ◽  
Patrick Roose ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Passive Samplers ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

scholarly journals Off-Gassing of Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds from Fire-Fighters’ Uniforms in Private Vehicles—A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3030
Author(s):  
Andrew P. W. Banks ◽  
Xianyu Wang ◽  
Chang He ◽  
Michael Gallen ◽  
Kevin V. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Fire Fighters ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

Firefighters’ uniforms become contaminated with a wide range of chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Laundering practices do not completely remove PAHs, OPFRs, and PBDEs from firefighting uniforms. This residual contamination of firefighting ensembles may be an ongoing source of exposure to firefighters. Firefighters are known to occasionally store firefighting ensembles in private vehicles. This study aimed to assess whether a firefighting uniform in a vehicle could act as a source for PAHs, OPFRs, and PBDEs to vehicle users. The shell layers of four laundered firefighting uniforms were sampled non-destructively. Three of these uniforms were heated in a laboratory oven (40, 60, and 80 °C) while the fourth was placed in a private vehicle on a summer day and off-gassing samples were collected from the uniforms. The off-gassing results for PAHs and OPFRs were relatively consistent between laboratory oven and the in-vehicle sample with ∑13 PAHs in off-gas ranging from 7800–23,000 ng uniform−1 day−1, while the ∑6 OPFRs off-gassed was an order of magnitude lower at 620–1600 ng uniform−1 day−1. The off-gassing results for PBDEs were much lower and less consistent between the experiments, which may reflect differences in uniform history. Currently, there is limited understanding of how PAHs, OPFRs, and PBDEs off-gassed from firefighting uniforms influence firefighter exposure to these chemicals. These findings suggest that firefighting ensembles off-gassing in private vehicles could be a relevant source of PAHs, OPFRs, and PBDEs that contributes to firefighters’ exposure and that this warrants further investigation.

Diurnal and seasonal modelling of the tropospheric half-lives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1966-1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel J. Bunce ◽  
Helena G. Dryfhout
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Hydroxyl Radical ◽  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Ozone Concentrations ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

The half-lives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were calculated under different conditions of location, season, and time of day, based on the reaction of PAH with the hydroxyl radical OH as the major sink. The calculations required a method of estimating the diurnal variation in the concentration of OH, which is not normally available experimentally. For naphthalene as a prototype PAH, the half-lives were of the order of several hours, but varied by more than an order of magnitude with season and geographical location. The previously developed model applicable to rural atmospheres was modified to estimate the half-lives of PAH in the urban troposphere by including of the reaction of OH with NO2 as a major urban sink for OH. The half-lives of several PAH were estimated for North York, Ontario, under different conditions of NO2 and ozone concentrations during a period of high tropospheric air pollution in July 1988.

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