Investigation of sources of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at mount lushan in Southern China

Abstract

Gaseous and particulate samples of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were collected at the summit of Mount Lushan (29.58°N, 115.98°E, 1165 m asl) in southern China from August to September of 2011 and March to May of 2012 except special meteorological conditions such as rainy or very foggy days. The concentration of PAHs in total (gaseous and particulate PAHs) ranged from 15.79 to 160.53 ng m-3 (mean 41.67 ng m-3). Observed logarithmic values of particulate mass fraction (log θ) and partitioning coefficient (log Kp) were all higher than values calculated by the three gas-particle partitioning models, presenting higher fraction of particulate PAHs, indicating continual contribution of gaseous PAHs to particulate PAHs concentrations during long-range transport of air masses. Identified potential source regions using potential source contribution function analysis suggested significant contributions of emissions from coking, thermal power, and steel plants. The sources of PAHs levels at Mount Lushan that were identified using positive matrix factorization included diesel vehicles (43%), coal-fired boiler combustion (33%), coke oven source (17%), and incineration source (7%).