Real-time characterization of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at a heavily trafficked roadside site

Yan Cheng, Kin Fai Ho, Wen Jing Wu, Steven Sai Hang Ho, Shun Cheng Lee, Yu Huang, Yun Wei Zhang, Pui Shan Yau, Yuan Gao, Chi Sing Chan

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A continuous photo-electric aerosol sensor (PAS) was used to characterize the particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (p-PAHs) content at a heavily trafficked roadside site in Hong Kong. The measurements at the roadside station were performed for nine months from January to September 2005. For the total quantified p-PAHs, the PAS output shows good correlations to the data obtained with the offline quartz-fiber aerosol filter collection method. The average concentration of corrected p-PAHs was 5.3 ± 3.7 ng/m3, ranging from 0.2 to 22.0 ng/m3. The p-PAHs concentrations increased in the daytime in accordance with the heavy amount of road traffic, and decreased in the nighttime due to less traffic. Hourly p- PAHs concentrations had high correlation coefficients with all goods vehicles (> 0.9) and large buses (~0.8), showing that diesel vehicle emissions are the primary source of p-PAHs. The day-to-day variation of p-PAHs is significant, because it was influenced by various factors (e.g., traffic levels, mixing height, and potential pollution sources).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1181-1188
Number of pages8
JournalAerosol and Air Quality Research
Volume12
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2012

Keywords

  • Black carbon
  • Pas
  • Polycyclic aromatic compound
  • Roadside measurement

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution

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