Gaseous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in harbin air

Polyurethane foam passive air samplers (PUF PAS) were fixed at eight sampling sites in Harbin Region concurrently to research atmospheric concentration and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Spring of 2007 (January to April). Results showed that the PUF PAS mostly absorbed the 3-4 ring PAHs, which accounted for 91.22%-96.37% comparing to total concentration. Total PAHs concentration had obvious area difference from urban to remote areas, such as 356.49 ng/d for urban, 162.65 ng/d for suburban, 278.35 ng/d for rural and 183.99 ng/d for background, with ratios of urban atmospheric concentration to rural concentration more than 2, three times higher than that of remote area. The atmospheric concentration was significantly affected by sources. Sources of PAHs in air of Harbin Region were investigated by diagnostic ratios, which indicated that coal and biofuel combustion were the main sources of PAHs in air of urban and rural area, respectively. The toxic equivalence factor (TEF) was used for health risk assessment, with similar area difference to concentration distribution, which implying bigger potential heath risk for urban and rural people than other areas. Good reproducibility of PUF passive air sampler was confirmed by one pair of passive samplers deployed at an urban site. The results of the study demonstrated the capability of PUF PAS to monitor atmospheric PAHs in a city scale at the same time.