Gas-particle concentrations and distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbons, PAHs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs in the atmosphere of Athens (Greece)

Air samples were collected at the urban center, a background site, and the adjacent coastal area of the metropolitan area of Athens during July 2000. Gas and particle phase concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons, alpha,beta-hopanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were identified and measured. Total concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons, ranged between 943.0 ng m(-3) (urban site) and 947.1 ng m(-3) (coastal area) in the gas and from 141.8 ng m(-3) (coastal site) up to 469.0 ng m(-3) (urban center) in the particulate phase. The total concentration of alpha,beta-hopanes (12 homologues) in,the urban area was ca. 0.2 ng m(-3) in the gas and 1.0 ng m(-3) in the particulate phase. Total PAH concentrations (SigmaPAHs of 20 members) ranged from 3.5 ng m(-3) (background site) to 26.0 ng m(-3) (urban center) in the gas and from 1.3 ng m(-3) (coastal area) up to 5.0 ng m(-3) (urban center) in the particulate phase. The total concentration of PCBs (SigmaPCBs of 38 congeners) in the gas plus the particulate phase of the atmosphere ranged from 80.5 pg m(-3) (background site) up to 348.6 pg m(-3) (urban center) and the corresponding concentration of PCDD/Fs ranged from 166.6 fg m(-3) (background site) up to 701.5 fg m(-3) (urban center), respectively. Gas-particle partition coefficients K-p of n-alkanes, PAHs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs were well correlated (R-2 = 0.50-0.99) with the sub-cooled liquid vapor pressure P-L(o). The. average Slopes m(r) of log K-p versus log P-L(o) for n-alkanes (-0.46) and PCBs (-0.44) were low compared to other urban areas. The corresponding m(r) values for PAHs (-0.57), PCDDs (-0.78) and PCDFs (-0.75) are comparable to those obtained in other urban areas. (C) 2002 Elsevier Sciencie Ltd. All rights reserved.