PM^sub 2.5^-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Impacted by Emissions of Light-Duty Vehicles Fueled by Ethanol-Blended Gasoline

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2014-12, Vol.93 (6), p.781
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Rafael Lopes, Loyola, Josiane, Minho, Alan Silva, Quiterio, Simone Lorena, de Almeida Azevedo, Débora, Arbilla, Graciela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Emissions; Environmental impact; Ethanol; Fuels; Gas chromatography; Gasoline; Health hazards; Mass spectrometry; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Pyrene; Vehicles
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-014-1409-0

The aim of this study was to characterize the PM^sub 2.5^-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and their diagnostic ratios in an area impacted by light-duty vehicles fueled by neat ethanol and ethanol-blended gasoline. Samples were collected using a high-volume sampler, extracted, and analyzed for all 16 EPA-priority PAHs using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) following the EPA 3550B Method. The most abundant PAHs were benzo[g,h,i]perylene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene. The total mean concentration was 3.80 ± 2.88 ng m^sup -3^, and the contribution of carcinogenic species was 58 ± 16 % of the total PAHs. The cumulative health hazard from the PAH mixture was determined, and the carcinogenic equivalents and mutagenic equivalents were 0.80 ± 0.82 and 1.17 ± 1.04 ng m^sup -3^, respectively. Diagnostic ratios and normalized ratios were calculated for the individual samples.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]