Title: Spatial and temporal variations of nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in P2.5 aerosols in Yangtze River Delta Region, China

Authors: Wu Wang; Dujuan Liu; Bing Wang; Jie Zhan; Dongping Zhang; Yanfeng Sun; Huaijian Li; Yan Yang; Jing Zhao; Liang Jing; Jialiang Feng

Addresses: Institute of Environmental Pollution and Health, Shanghai University, 200444 Shanghai, China ' Institute of Environmental Pollution and Health, Shanghai University, 200444 Shanghai, China ' College of Chinese People's Liberation Army Officer, 230031 Anhui, China ' Institute of Environmental Pollution and Health, Shanghai University, 200444 Shanghai, China ' Institute of Environmental Pollution and Health, Shanghai University, 200444 Shanghai, China ' Institute of Environmental Pollution and Health, Shanghai University, 200444 Shanghai, China ' Shuicheng Environmental Protection Bureau, 553000 Guizhou, China ' Chaohu Environmental Protection Bureau, 238001 Anhui, China ' Shucheng Food and Drug Administration, 231300 Anhui, China ' Institute of Environmental Pollution and Health, Shanghai University, 200444 Shanghai, China ' Institute of Environmental Pollution and Health, Shanghai University, 200444 Shanghai, China

Abstract: Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) are of great interest because of their high potential mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. PM2.5 aerosol campaigns were carried out for four seasons from December 2007 to January 2009 in Xujiahui, Baoshan and Lin'an in Yangtze River Delta Region, China. Nine nitro-PAHs were detected, the average seasonal concentrations for three sampling sites ranging between 0.17-879 pg m−3. 2-Nitrofluoranthene was the most abundant nitro-PAH, accounting for 54% of the total nitro-PAH concentration, followed by 9-nitroanthracene, 3-nitrophenanthrene and 7-nitrobenz(a)anthracene, about 15%, 16% and 10%, respectively. There were good correlation between mass concentrations of PM2.5 and the total concentrations of nitro-PAHs from samples in Xujiahui, R² = 0.76, and Baoshan, R² = 0.60; yet, a poor correlation in Linan, R² = 0.44.

Keywords: temporal variations; nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; nitro-PAHs; PM2.5 aerosols; particulate matter; spatial variation; China; mutagenicity; carcinogenicity.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2013.057694

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2013 Vol.10 No.4, pp.228 - 241

Received: 25 Oct 2012
Accepted: 04 Jun 2013

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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