Contribution of traffic and tobacco smoke in the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on outdoor and indoor PM2.5

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

D. Castro (Author) Other; K. Slezakova (Author) FEUP; C. Delerue Matos (Author) Other; M. C. Alvim Ferraz (Author) FEUP; S. Morais (Author) Other; M. C. Pereira (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Global Nest Journal

Vol. 12 No. 1

Pages: 3-11

ISSN: 1790-7632

Publisher: Global Nest

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 12 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 14 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Associated Projects

Gulbenkian 60415 - Partículas suspensas no ar exterior e interior: caracterização para suporte de estudos epidemiológicos

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-8N6

Abstract (EN): Traffic emissions and tobacco smoke are considered two main sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor and outdoor air. In this study, the impact of these sources on the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and on the distribution of 15 PAHs regarded as priority pollutants by the US-EPA on PM2.5 were evaluated and compared. Outdoor and indoor PM2.5 samples were collected during winter 2008 in Oporto city in Portugal, for sampling periods of 12 and 24 hours, respectively. The outdoor PM2.5 were sampled at one site directly influenced by traffic emissions and the indoor PM2.5 samples were collected at one home directly influenced by tobacco smoke and another one without smoke. A methodology based on microwave-assisted extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was applied for the efficient PAHs determination in indoor and outdoor PM2.5. PAHs in indoor PM2.5 concentrations were significantly influenced by the presence of traffic and tobacco smoking emissions. The mean of Sigma PAHs in the outdoor traffic PM2.5 was not significantly different from the value attained in the indoor without smoking site. The tobacco smoke increased significantly PAHs concentrations on average about 1000 times more, when compared with the outdoor profile samples suggesting that tobacco smoking may be the most important source of indoor PAHs pollution.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9