PARTICLE-SIZE DEPENDENT CONCENTRATIONS OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS (PAH) IN THE OUTDOOR AIR

Particle size distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) from outdoor air sampling were measured. Size segregated samples were collected in Southeast Germany with a five stage high-volume cascade impactor (HVS) and a five stage low-pressure impactor (LPI). Fifty-seven PAH and alkylated PAH were identified by GC-MS. Twelve of them were quantified by HPLC with fluorescence detection. 50 - 60% of the total PAH content was found on particles smaller than 0.49 mu m and more than 85% on particles < 1.5 mu m respectively 1.72 mu m. The results of the high-volume and the low-pressure impactor samples are in good agreement, although differences above 20% occur when single compounds are under the quantification limit in the LPI samples because of the low volumes sampled.