Environmental pollution by organic contaminants as the contributors of the global warming

Abstract

Because they contain black carbon as the UV-absorbing component, soot particles are regarded as contributing significantly to global warming. They are released to ambient air during the burning of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels—coal and petroleum in particular. Concurrently with soot, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed as the by-products of the incomplete combustion of organic matter. A correlation between concentration levels of PAHs in atmospheric particles and soot content is detected, given PAHs’ high affinity for carbonaceous materials and strong sorption to soot particles. Therefore, it can be assumed that sorption to the soot particles governs the gas–particle partition process of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air. The main objective of the chapter is to estimate the gas–particle partition of PAHs using the soot–air partition coefficient (KSA) within the model proposed by Dachs–Eisenreich and to compare the modeled values with results obtained from the field measurements. Air sampling campaign is performed during the early summer period at six selected urban and industrial localities in Vojvodina (Serbia), using the high-volume ambient air samplers. For each sampling period, one quartz fiber filter (GF) and two polyurethane foam filters are used. Contemporary usage of both types of sampling medium has enabled the simultaneous collection of suspended particles and gaseous phase of PAHs. Samples are analyzed using GC-MS instrument (HP 6890–HP 5972) supplied with a J&;W Scientific fused silica column DB-5MS. The statistical analysis is performed using Statistica 10. The modeled values obtained using the Dachs–Eisenreich approach are in reasonable agreement with results from the field measurement and, consequently, confirm that soot–air partition coefficient can be used as prediction parameter of the gas–particle partitioning processes for PAHs.