Size distributions of PAHs in ambient air particles of two areas of Las Palmas De Gran Canaria

Abstract

The size distribution of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in particulate aerosol in two different areas of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was investigated in May 2002. One of the study areas (Bravo Murillo) was under the influence of heavy traffic and the other (Pedro Lezcano) under that of small-scale industries of various nature. The average concentration of total suspended particulates (TSP) at Bravo Murillo (35.2 mug m(-3)) was roughly one-half that at Pedro Lezcano (73.6 mug m(-3)); the former, however, exhibited a higher PAH content ( sum of PAHs: 6.6 +/- 1.8 versus 5.1 +/- 3.9 ng m(-3)). The aerosol size partition of total PAHs at Bravo Murillo, with a unimodal peaking at 0.08 - 0.3 mum, was completely different from that at Pedro Lezcano, where accumulation observed in the 3.8 - 7.4 mum range suggests the ageing of particles occurred, with PAHs have redistributed according to surface extension of particles.