A Comparison of Air Particulate Matter and Associated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Some Tropical and Temperature Urban Environments

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) 1999-10, Vol.33 (24), p.4087-4087
• Main Authors: Panther, B C, Hooper, MA, Tapper, N J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1352-2310

Ambient urban total suspended particulate and PAH levels were determined in Seoul, South Korea; Hong Kong; Bangkok, Thailand; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Melbourne, Australia. The cities represented a range of climatic environments and developing to developed economies. The air samples were collected over 12-month periods between December 1992 and April 1994. The highest total suspended particulate levels were found in Jakarta, 85% of which exceeded the 24-h WHO standard. Lowest levels were recorded in Melbourne and Hong Kong. Both Seoul and Jakarta exhibited high annual average PAH concentrations, with levels in Melbourne and Hong Kong an order of magnitude lower. The benzo[a]pyrene levels in Jakarta were significantly higher than in the other cities, followed by Seoul and Bangkok, and Melbourne and Hong Kong. A clear seasonal trend was observed for both particulate matter and PAHs in the tropical cities, with highest concentrations occurring during the dry season. Total particulate matter concentrations plotted against PAH concentrations showed weak correlations in Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Jakarta, possibly indicating common sources. The possible factors contributing to the variations in PAH concentrations over the year are discussed, including: fossil-fuel combustion, photochemical degradation, long-range transport, wet deposition and in-cloud scavenging processes, and volatilization of lower-molecular-weight species.