Concentration and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the metropolitan area of Belgrade, Serbia

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) 2015-07, Vol.112, p.335-343
• Main Authors: Cvetković, Anka, Jovašević-Stojanović, Milena, Marković, Dragan, Ristovski, Zoran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diagnostic ratio; Health risk assessment; Particulate matter; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Source apportionment; Toxic equivalent factor
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.04.034

The aim was to determine concentrations, sources of priority PAHs in PM10 in ambient air and the lifetime lung cancer risk from exposure to PAHs using TEFs at different locations over Belgrade Metropolitan: traffic, rural industrial and suburban industrial. PM10 were collected using LVS on quartz filters in period 2010–2011 and priority PAHs were determine by GC–MS. Mean total PAHs concentrations for traffic, rural industrial and suburban industrial locations vary between nonheating and heating seasons from about 5 to 7 and 50–100 ng/m3, respectively. Source apportionment technique as PMF and diagnostic ratio were applied and 5 emission sources were identified. Locations were under influence of traffic and stationary sources. Particular factor were identified at rural and suburban industrial locations as wood burning, while at suburban industrial site was additionally influenced by coal combustion. Health risk assessment showed that the most negative impact was found at the suburban industrial location. •Analysis of PM10-bound PAH has been conducted in Belgrade Metropolitan (Serbia).•PM10 and PM10-bound PAH concentrations have shown seasonal variation.•PMF has been applied on PAH daily data set.•Major PAH sources are traffic, stationary sources, wood and coal combustion.