Long-term sampling: Suitable monitoring strategy for determination of semi-volatile PAHs at outdoor and indoor sites

SummaryA new, molecular diffusion-based, sampling device (Analyst 2) has been used for the determination of semi-volatile PAHs in air. It has been developed from a previous model (Analyst), which is suitable for volatile hydrocarbons. The new model is capable of collecting enough gaseous PAHs for GC-MS analysis of enriched samples after 2 months exposure to both urban and suburban air. The adsorbent material adopted for enriching PAHs from air (Carbopack C) gives good recoveries of analytes from naphthalene to chrysene when a single solvent extraction is run at ambient temperature.The results of an experiment for assessing the internal consistency of this device are presented here. Data collected indicate that the “uptake rate” is constant for a 6-month sampling period. Results are also presented and discussed for indoor and outdoor determination of volatile PAHs, collected at both urban and suburban sites over a 12-month period in 2-monthly steps.

[1]  G. Hilbert,et al.  Field intercomparison of measurement techniques for total NH4+ and total NO3− in ambient air , 1988 .

[2]  James F. Pankow,et al.  Review and comparative analysis of the theories on partitioning between the gas and aerosol particulate phases in the atmosphere , 1987 .

[3]  J. Pankow,et al.  Measurements of the gas/particle distributions of atmospheric organic compounds , 1989 .

[4]  W. Cautreels,et al.  Experiments on the distribution of organic pollutants between airborne particulate matter and the corresponding gas phase , 1978 .

[5]  K. Peltonen,et al.  Air sampling and analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , 1995 .

[6]  S. Canepari,et al.  Evaluation tests and applications of a double-layer tube-type passive sampler , 1990 .

[7]  M. D. Jackson,et al.  Modification and evaluation of a high-volume air sampler for pesticides and semivolatile industrial organic chemicals , 1982 .

[8]  F. Bruner,et al.  Analysis of sulphur compounds in environmental samples with specific detection and selective columns. , 1976, Journal of chromatography.

[9]  K. Andersson,et al.  Sampling and analysis of particulate and gaseous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from coal tar sources in the working environment , 1983 .

[10]  G. Bertoni,et al.  Assessment of a new passive device for the monitoring of benzene and other volatile aromatic compounds in the atmosphere , 2000 .

[11]  A. Cecinato,et al.  Environmental monitoring of semi-volatile polyciclic aromatic hydrocarbons by means of diffusive sampling devices and GC-MS analysis , 2001 .

[12]  B. Seifert,et al.  Losses of benzo(a)pyrene under the conditions of high-volume sampling , 1980 .

[13]  F. Bruner,et al.  Comparison of physical and gas chromatographic properties of sterling FT and carbopack C graphitized carbon blacks , 1976 .