Seasonal and Spatial Patterns of Phase-Segregated Atmospheric PolycyclicAromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in North Western Part of Turkey Analysedby GC-MS

Abstract

Seasonal and spatial variation and sources of phase-distributed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Northwestern part of Turkey was studied for pollution level and sources appointment. Daily sampling of air was done for one year in two sites; BalA±kesir city and the dam lake. Samples were analyzed by using GC-MS. The sum of the total concentration of PAHs was 517 ± 425 ng/ml for city and 153 ± 108 ng/ml dam lake respectively. Seasonal variations were observed sharply, for the city winter highest of 700 ng/ml. Highest observed concentration for Dam Lake was 160 ng/ml in summer season. Gas to particle phase partitioning was calculated and dam lake data was more favoring for the study. In summer gas/particle ratio was 38. We have observed in city low molecular weight PAHs were in the gas phase. In winter Gas/particle ratio was in between 2-5. Diagnostic ratio analysis and factor analysis indicated combustion and vehicular emission as the major sources for PAHs pollution.