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.

A set of 72 PM 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 (O, NO, SO, PM) 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]