Concentration and Gas-particle Partitioning of Hexachlorobenzene in the Ambient Air Before and After the Beijing Olympic Games

Systematic studies of hexachlorobenzene in the ambient air before and after the Beijing Olympic Games were carried out during July 2007 to March 2009. Air samples were collected around 20th monthly on the roof of a building near the Olympic center. The average concentration of hexachlorobenzene was 264 pg center dot m(-3), which was higher in winter than other seasons. However, hexachlorobenzene concentration was decreased clearly in winter in 2008 compare with in 2007 due to the implementation of a series of Green Olympic policies. Gas-particle partitioning shows that the increase of hexachlorobenzene levels in winter time was mainly contributed by the high total suspended particulate from combustion processes such as coal-burning and traffic emission.