Investigation of the origin and concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with improved accuracy by the use of a multi-component integrated calibration method in the Katowice region, Poland

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2023-04, Vol.448, p.130871-130871, Article 130871
• Main Authors: Świt, Paweł, Orzeł, Joanna, Maślanka, Sławomir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: air; calibration; chemometrics; color; dust; HPLC; industrialization; Integrated calibration method; Multi-component analysis; PAHs origin; Poland; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); river water; rivers; sediments; snow; tap water
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130871

The basic variant of the integrated calibration method (ICM), based on a combination of external calibration (EC) and standard addition method (SAM), was applied to multi-component (MC) analysis to obtain a new methodological approach to improve the quality of analytical results. The analytical performance of the proposed method was evaluated on indicated by EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) determination in various environmental samples (air, house dust, tap water, river water, river sediment, and snow) from the Katowice region (Poland). HPLC-FLD was used during all analyses. The main aim was to show the origin of PAHs in different places in the urban and industrialized region of Poland. MC-ICM allowed for the elimination of interference from the coelution of other substances. Several diagnostic coefficients were calculated for the results free from systematic errors and interferences. The obtained results were consistent with the chemometric analysis (PCA). The method was assessed regarding analytical usefulness using the RGB model (the color method is White) and environmental friendliness using the AGREE approach. [Display omitted] •A new methodological approach in separation science for monitoring PAHs was developed.•An integrated calibration method in a multi-component version was applied.•An approach was used for the assessment of PAHs origin, which was confirmed by chemometric analysis.•An investigation of environmental samples confirms the utility of the method.•According to the RGB model, the approach is White – method is a good candidate of choice for all applications.