Analysis of anthropogenic and biogenic lipids in the aerosol of a coastal area in East Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

The concentrations of lipids were determined in atmospheric particle samples, collected seasonally, in an urban coastal area of the Island of Crete. Lipid compound classes, such as n-alkanes, hopanes and steranes, PAH, fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty acids selts, were determined by GC-FID and GC-MS analysis. The concentrations ranged between 56-215 ng/m3 for n-alkanes, 10-52 ng/m3 for PAH, 2-31 ng/m3 for fatty alcohols, 13-279 ng/m3 for fatty acids and 24-220 ng/m3 for fatty acid salts. ω-Oxocarboxylic acids were also determined as salts, indicating the atmospheric oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. © 1991 Springer-Verlag.