Diurnal Concentrations of 1,3-, 1,6-, 1,8-Dinitropyrenes, 1-Nitropyrene and Benzo[a]pyrene in Air in Downtown Kanazawa and the Contribution of Diesel-Engine Vehicles

Abstract

Direct-acting mutagenic 1,3-dinitropyrene (1,3-DNP), 1,6-DNP, 1,8-DNP and 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) and indirect-acting mutagenic benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in airborne particulates collected by the side of a busy intersection in downtown Kanazawa were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with chemiluminescence and fluorescence detection. Time courses of their concentrations were high in the morning (8:00–10:00) and evening (16:00–20:00) and low from the midnight until early morning (0:00–6:00). Levels of each DNP (in the range of fmol/m3) and 1-NP (in the range of sub pmol/m3 or pmol/m3) were, respectively, more than three and about one order of magnitude lower than that of BaP. Large correlation coefficients (0.85–0.91) between their concentrations, traffic volume, and carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide concentrations suggested that the main source was vehicles. Utilizing the concentration ratios, ([1,3-DNP] + [1,6-DNP] + [1,8-DNP])/[1-NP], in airborne particulates (0.014), gasoline particulates (0.56) and diesel particulates (0.013), contributions (%) of dieselengine vehicles to the three DNPs and 1-NP in the air were estimated to be 94.3% and 99.8%, respectively. © 1995, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.