Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air particulate matter from a lightly industrialized urban area

Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been measured in the air particulate matter (APM) of a lightly industrialized urban area in which the main sources of PAH are domestic fires and automobiles. The PAH were analyzed by glass capillary gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis of the results using 26 PAH allows the relative contribution of the two sources to be estimated and shows that during periods of heavy pollution (APM > 100 ..mu..g m/sup -3/) domestic fires are the main contributors. A simpler ratio, ln (1 + (benzofluoranthenes)/(total PAH)) - ln (1 + (benzo(ghi)perylene)/(total PAH)), gives similar discrimination.