Polycyclic aromatic compounds in ambient air in the surface minable area of Athabasca oil sands in Alberta (Canada)

Abstract This study characterizes concentrations and describes the spatiotemporal patterns of ambient air polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) between 2011 and 2015 in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR). 24-hour integrated ambient air samples were collected at multiple sites and analyzed for 110 PACs. Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (alk-PAHs) formed the majority of the PACs in air and correlated with unsubstituted PAHs, suggesting common emission source(s) and/or origin. Concentrations of individual PACs varied spatially and seasonally. Temporal variability of PAC concentrations was evident, however based on Seasonal Mann-Kendal test a monotonic increase in concentrations at the monitored sites was not significant at p