Particle size dependent concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the outdoor air

Particle size distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) from outdoor air sampling were measured. Size segregated samples were collected in Southeast Germany with a five stage high-volume cascade impactor (HVS) and a five stage low-pressure impactor (LPI). Fifty-seven PAH and alkylated PAH were identified by GC-MS. Twelve of them were quantified by HPLC with fluorescence detection. 50 – 60% of the total PAH content was found on particles smaller than 0.49 μm and more than 85% on particles < 1.5 μm respectively 1.72 μm. The results of the high-volume and the low-pressure impactor samples are in good agreement, although differences above 20% occur when single compounds are under the quantification limit in the LPI samples because of the low volumes sampled.