Annual, Seasonal, and Daily Trends in the Levels of High-Molecular-Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Atmospheric Air of Sochi in 2013‒2020

• Published in: Russian journal of general chemistry 2021-12, Vol.91 (13), p.2881-2891
• Main Author: Khalikov, I. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Molecular weight; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Sampling; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Soccer; Trends; Winter
• ISSN: 1070-3632; 1608-3350
• DOI: 10.1134/S1070363221130168

The results on the monitoring of the levels of benzo(a)pyrene and other high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HMW PAHs) in 2013–2020 in the atmospheric air of Sochi by HPLC with fluorometric detection are presented. The maximum average monthly concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene in the air samples taken in the winter seasons at a sampling time of 7 pm were found to exceed the MAC (2.2 MAC, December 2013; 1.9 MAC, January 2014; 1.1 MAC, January 2015; 1.4 MAC, December 2017). In other time, including the periods of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the average concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene in the atmospheric air of Sochi never exceeded the MAC, and the level of pollution was characterized as “low” in all seasons of the year. Seasonal variability in the levels of benzo(a)pyrene and other priority HMW PAHs, as well as antantrene, coronene, and dibenzpyrenes, in the atmospheric air of Sochi was demonstrated, with a maximum in the winter season and a minimum in the summer season. A regularity in the variation of the concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene and other HMW PAHs, with maximum concentrations in the evening, was revealed (sampling at 7 pm). An annual downward trend in the concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene and other polyarenes from 2013 to 2016 was noticed. From 2016 to the present, no regular trends in the variation of the concentrations of HMW PAHs in the atmospheric air of Sochi throughout the year were revealed. The average monthly HMW PAH profiles in air were similar to each other ( K d < 0.3) only for months of the same season of the year. Analysis of the sources of entry showed the pyrogenic nature of the HMW PAHs. The HMW PAH pollution of the atmospheric air of Sochi does not pose threat at present.