An investigation on atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Izmir

Fourteen PAH compounds including fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, carbazole, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]-anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene were investigated in ambient air, soil and water samples in Izmir. Ambient air studies were carried out at three sampling sites a suburban and two urban sites and their spatial and seasonal variations were investigated. Phenanthrene was the most abundant compound at all sites, and all samples were dominated by low molecular weight PAHs. Gas-particle partitioning of PAHs were examined using octanol-based and soot-based partitioning models. Dry deposition samples were collected in suburban and urban sampling sites concurrently with ambient air samples. Particle dry deposition velocities were calculated using particle concentrations and fluxes. Soil samples were collected at suburban sampling site. Like the air samples the PAH profile in soil was dominated by lower molecular weight compounds. The net air-soil exchange of PAH fluxes were examined. Fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene and carbazole were deposited to soil in winter while they were volatilized in summer seasons. Other compounds (flouranthene- benzo[g,h,i]perylene) were deposited to soil in both periods. Concurrent ambient air and water concentrations were measured at a coastal site of Izmir Bay. The net air-water exchange PAH fluxes were also examined. Net PAH fluxes were mainly deposition from air to water during the sampling periods.Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ambient air, gas/particle partitioning, dry deposition, deposition velocity, air/water exchange, air/soil exchange.