This paper presents daily, monthly and yearly variations of PAH mass concentrations measured in PM sub(1) sub(0) particle fraction, collected at one measuring site in Zagreb air between 2001 and ...2004, and seasonal differences in PAH mass concentrations in PM sub(1) sub(0) samples collected from 21 March 2003 to 20 March 2004. Twenty-four hour samples were taken in the northern residential part of Zagreb using a low-volume (50 m super(3)) sampler and glass or quartz filters. The analysis was performed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and fluorescence detector with changeable excitation and emission wavelength. The annual average mass concentrations over the four-year measuring period for BaP ranged from 1.17 ng/m super(3) in 2004 to 1.87 ng/m super(3) in 2003 and were below the limit value (2 ng/m super(3)) set by the Ordinance on Recommended and Limit Air Quality Values in Croatia. The highest concentrations of all PAHs measured in PM sub(1) sub(0) samples collected from 21 March 2003 to 20 March 2004 were found in the winter and the lowest in the summer. Winter average of BaP was 2.94 ng/m super(3) and summer average 0.12 ng/m super(3). Autumn average was 2.76 ng/m super(3) and was very similar to winter concentrations. Spring average of 0.58 ng/m super(3) was higher than the summer average (0.12 ng/m super(3)). Mass concentrations of all measured PAHs were much higher in the autumn than in the spring. Although annual averages for BaP did not exceed the limit value, autumn and winter BaP mass concentrations did, which calls for measures for reducing PAH emissions in the autumn and winter.
Total suspended particulate matter and heavy metal (Pb, Mn, Cd and Hg) concentrations were measured at the location in the vicinity of the waste dump to determine the air pollution level of these ...pollutants prior to the operation of the Mobile Thermal Treatment Plant. Samples were collected over one year period. Seasonal differences, and the influence of meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, pressure and wind direction) on the air pollution levels were studied. Results show relatively low concentrations of TSP, Pb, Mn and Cd, while Hg levels were higher compared to the guideline values. Good weather conditions are connected to long range transport of particulate matter, while higher temperatures result in elevated mercury concentrations. Because of the predominant northeast wind direction, the contribution of air pollution from the direction of the waste dump at the measuring site is significant, but that does not necessarily mean that the pollutants originated from that source.
Air pollution studies Fugas, M; Vadić, V; Sega, K ...
Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju
50, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the research in the area of air pollution, carried out exclusively at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health and performed by the ...scientists of the Institute. For the past fifty years, air quality has been studied at work, in the ambient air of urban and industrial areas, and in various indoor environments without occupational exposure. Methods for sampling and measuring air pollutants have been introduced or developed and verified. The behaviour and the fate of air pollutants in the environment have also been investigated. Since the primary goal of the studies was to assess the extent of human exposure to air pollutants, the data were used to calculate the risk for various population groups. A dynamic model of exposure for various population groups relied on calculations of collected data, taking into account time spent in various microenvironments. This text describes the cooperation of the Institute with other institutions and agencies on the national and international level and outlines the current and prospective activities.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds with two or more benzene rings. They are a product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and other organic matter. PAHs are ...present in low concentrations in the air, especially in summer. However, the fact that many were found to have a mutagenic or carcinogenic effect drew more attention to them. Hundreds of PAHs have been identified in the air with BaP dominating in frequency and cancerogenic properties. The review describes an assessment of exposure to PAHs in 15 subjects through comparison between recorded PAH levels and time spent in various microenvironments and directly measured personal exposure. The average results did not significantly differ, but the BaP levels were close to or a little above guidelines for the limit value. This finding calls for immediate measures to reduce emissions of PAH.
Small-volume air samples (~7 m3 per 24 h) of airborne PM10 particle fraction were collected on quartz fibre filters at two measuring sites in the vicinity of the gas field Molve in April and July ...2006. It took five to seven days for each sample to collect and one month to collect five to seven samples. Mass concentrations of PM10 fractions were determined by gravimetry while PAHs were analysed using a HPLC with a fluorescent detector. The analysis included fluoranthene (Flu), pyrene (Pyr), benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Cry), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), benzo(ghi)perylene (BghiP) and indene(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (Ind). Average concentrations of all PAHs in April at site A were slightly higher than at site B while in July they were lower and similar on both sites. Average BaP concentration measured at site A in April was 0.156 ng m-3 and at site B 0.129 ng m-3, while July BaP averages were 0.022 ng m-3 at both sites. In both months, the mass concentration of BaP was lower than the limit value (1 ng m-3) and well below the tolerant value (2 ng m-3) set by a Croatian regulation of 2005. This suggests that the air near gas field Molve was of acceptable quality in respect to BaP at the time of the measurement.
Uzorci PM10 frakcije lebdećih čestica skupljani su prosisavanjem malog volumena zraka (~7 m3 za 24 h) kroz filtre od kvarcnih vlakana. Svaki je uzorak skupljan tijekom pet do sedam dana na dva mjerna mjesta u okolici plinskog polja Molve. Uzorkovanje je provedeno tijekom travnja i srpnja 2006. godine. Masene koncentracije PM10 frakcije odredene su gravimetrijski, dok je analiza policikličkih aromatskih ugljikovodika (PAU) radena tekućinskom kromatografijom visoke djelotvornosti (HPLC) s fluorescentnim detektorom. Mjereni su sljedeći PAU: fluoranten, piren, benzo(a)antracen, krizen, benzo(b)fluoranten, benzo(k)fluoranten, benzo(a)piren, benzo(ghi)perilen i indeno(1,2,3-cd)piren. Srednje vrijednosti masenih koncentracija svih PAU u travnju na mjernome mjestu A bile su neznatno više od onih na mjernome mjestu B, dok su u srpnju na oba mjerna mjesta bile vrlo slične. Srednja vrijednost koncentracije BaP izmjerenog u travnju na mjernome mjestu A bila je viša od vrijednosti izmjerene na mjernome mjestu B. U srpnju su srednje vrijednosti bile znatno niže i na oba mjerna mjesta iznosile su 0.022 ng m-3. Iz rezultata dobivenih mjerenjem vidljivo je da je koncentracija benzo(a)pirena bila znatno niža od granične vrijednosti (1 ng m-3) i tolerantne vrijednosti (1 ng m-3, Uredba iz 2005.), pa možemo zaključiti da je zrak u okolici plinskog polja Molve tijekom istraživanog razdoblja bio prve kategorije kakvoće.
Samples of suspended particulate matter, collected at four sites in Zagreb during the heating season were analysed for the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Data were analysed with special ...reference to indicators of car traffic contribution the BghiPer/BaP and Cor/BaP ratios. Taking 1.5 as a borderline value for the BghiPer/BaP ratio, a significant influence of car traffic on air pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was noticed at a site close to a petrol station. Our data were compared with the BghiPer/BaP and Cor/BaP ratios from other countries. A similar relationship of the ratios between urban and traffic near sites was obtained.
This paper presents the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) measured in all four seasons in suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected with a high-volume sampler on one measuring ...site in the northern part of Zagreb. About 30 samples of SPM were analysed for each season, including workdays and weekends and there were no differences amongst them. The concentrations of all PAHs were highest in winter and lowest in summer. The spring PAH concentrations were lower than the autumn ones, as the spring had more sunny and warm days. The profiles of PAH/BaP at the measurement sites showed that the main source of PAHs in spring and summer was traffic while a substantial amount of autumn and winter PAHs, besides traffic, came from heating.
The relationship of polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons (PAH) and smoke concentrationwas analysed at four different locations in Zagreb during theheating season. At two sampling sitessmoke pollution came ...primarily from domestic heating while theother two sites were under a directinfluence of traffic. At locations away from trafficcorrelations between smoke and PAH concentrationswere stochastically significant at 0.01 level. Takingbenzo-a-pyrene (BaP) as a PAH representative itwas shown that for these two locations the smoke/BaPrelationship can be presented with a singleregression line which can serve for rough assessment of BaPlevels in the air. The BaP concentrationof 10 ng/m^sup 3^ - proposed by the German FederalEnvironmental Agency as "orientation < mark" (Lahman et al., 1984) - might be expected to occurat smoke levels ≥60 μg/m^sup 3^,and above this level it is recommended to start measuringactual concentrations of PAH.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are products of incomplete combustion of organic compounds in the environment or a consequence of human activities. They can be found in all environmental media. ...Although they are present in rather low concentrations they have been receiving increasing attention lately. Some of them have been proven carcinogens and mutagens. Sensitive analytical methods that are presently available have made the monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons practicable. This paper is a review of their chemical structures, nomenclature and biological actions. Their distribution and levels in the environment are described, with special emphasis on the fate and behaviour of these compounds in the atmosphere, as well as on studies of personal exposure.
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