Pollution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Inhalable Particulate Matter in Baotou Jiuyuan Industrial Zone

Objectives To investigate the characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀) in Jiuyuan industrial area of Baotou city and to provide advices for environmental pollution control.

Methods PM₁₀ samples were collected in periods during heating, non-heating and sandstorm in Baotou City Jiuyuan industrial zone.Sixteen kinds of PAHs were qualitatively and quantitatively determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the characteristic ratio was used to explore the source of PAHs, and the toxic equivalent concentration method was used for health risk assessment.

Results Sixteen kinds of PAHs in atmospheric PM₁₀, which must be controlled preferentially in heating period, was higher than that in non-heating period and wind blowing period, the difference has statistical significance.Most of PAHs in PM₁₀ were moderate or higher polycyclic.PAHs in PM₁₀ were mainly from coal combustion; the toxic equivalent concentrations of PAHs in these three periods exceeded the standard limits.

Conclusions The pollution of PAHs in atmospheric PM₁₀ in heating period in Baotou city Jiuyuan industrial zone was serious, the PAHs with higher polycyclic were mainly from coal combustion.