Turbulent transport of particle-bound PAHs: A feasibility study combining GC-APLI-MS and eddy covariance

Stader C., Deventer M.J., Klemm O., Achten C.

Abstract

A novel approach combining gas chromatography-atmospheric pressure laser ionization-time-of-flightmassspectrometry (GC-APLI-MS) with the micrometeorological eddy covariance (EC) technique isdemonstrated to quantify particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mass fluxes above acentral European city. During the case study, 18 different PAH compounds could be identified in two onehourparticle samples and, in combination with size-resolved particle deposition velocities obtained fromEC measurements, inferred particulate PAH mass fluxes for two respective size fractions (0.060e0.108 mmand 0.170e10 mm) were quantified. Maximum concentrations and fluxes (in the order of 0.9 8 ng ± 0.09e17 ± m2 hr1) were estimated for the 5-ring PAHs benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene and perylene.Fingerprints of PAH concentrations suggest strong pyrogenic sources, particularly wood burning.