The Content of Selected Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM 10 in Urban-Industrial Area

This research concerns the measurement of daily PM10 concentrations and the assessment of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The measurements were carried out in the urban-industrial area in southern Poland in the period from February to December 2019 (covering heating and non-heating seasons). The metal content of As, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, Zn, V, was estimated using mass spectrometry with inductively excited plasma (ICP-MS), and that of Au and Mg using atomic emission spectrometry with induced plasma (ICP-OES). Analysis of selected PAHs (Naph, Acy, Ace, Fl, Phen, An, Fluo, Pyr, BaA, Chry, BbF, BkF, BaP, IcdP, DahA, BghiP) was performed using a gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The share of the analyzed metals in PM10 concentrations was ~ 1.37% in the entire measurement period, ~ 1.09% in the heating season and ~ 1.55% in the non-heating one. High concentrations of aluminum and chromium, observed over the measurement period, indicate the presence of strong anthropogenic sources of both metals. In the case of PAHs in PM10, the average total share of the analyzed was ~ 1.25%, while this share slightly increased in the heating season (average: ~ 2.19%) compared to non-heating (average: ~ 0.63%).