Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air particulates and its effect on the Tumen river area, Northeast China

Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in air particulates, ice particulates, snow particulates and river water samples collected during December 2008 to February 2010 in Tumen river area, Northeast China. The total concentration of 15 PAHs in the air particulates, water, water particulates, and particulates in the ice and snow ranged: 3.2–776 ng m−3, 12.9–383 ng L−1, 19.4–2.10 × 103 ng L−1, 62.8–136 ng L−1 and 9.68 × 103–6.96 × 104 ng g−1, respectively. Elevated PAHs were found in winter season, followed by autumn, and lowest in summer. Seasonal variations of air particulate PAHs well reflected by the local residential heating period, which maybe the main contributive factor for high PAH levels in winter. PAH congeners and principal component analysis of 15 PAH congeners in particulate samples of air, water, snow and ice show similar patterns suggesting common sources of PAHs. Fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene were found to be dominant compounds. PAHs observed in the air particulates appeared to be strongly related to those in other particulate samples, and atmospheric deposition can be an important factor in the environmental quality of the Tumen river area. Additionally, other meteorological factors such as temperature and CO2 levels affecting PAHs distribution in the atmosphere were discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]