Characterization, identification of ambient air and road dust polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in central Taiwan, Taichung

The concentrations of ambient air polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured simultaneously in an industrial area (Taichung Industrial Park, TIP) and suburban area (Tunghai University, THU) in central Taiwan, Taichung. A total of samples were collected simultaneously at the two sites between August 2002 and March 2003. Particle-bound PAHs (p-PAHs) were collected on quartz filters and gas-phase PAHs (g-PAHs) on glass cartridges using polyurethane foam sampler, respectively. Both types of samples were extracted with dichloromethane/n-hexane mixture (50/50, v/v) for 24 h, then the extracts were subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis. Moreover, the roadside dust particle PAHs composition were also collected and analyzed at TIP, THU and traffic road sampling sites. The five main road lines in Taichung City were selected as traffic road sampling sites. Correlation studies between PAHs concentrations and meteorological parameters were revealed that temperature has greater effects (P>0.6) than other meteorological parameters such as wind speed, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure on g-PAHs and p-PAHs. PAHs sources were resolved by using principal component analysis and diagnostic ratios. The major sources of PAHs were combustion, traffic vehicle exhaust (diesel and gasoline engine), incinerator and industrial stationary sources at both sampling sites in central Taiwan.