A study on characteristics of organic carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM10 at the residential and industrial areas in Ulsan of Korea

Airborne PM₁₀ has been collected on quartz microfiber filter using a high volume sampler at the urban residential and industrial areas of Ulsan in Korea during June to September 2009. Mean concentrations of PM₁₀ ranged from 16.8 to 54.6 μg/m³ in the residential area and from 24.8 to 89.9 μg/m³ in the industrial area. Organic compounds of PM₁₀ deposited on quartz microfiber filter were identified by a thermal/optical carbon aerosol analyzer (Sunset Laboratory, Forest Grove) operating on the NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) Method 5040. Results showed the average concentration of organic carbon in PM₁₀ was 8.1 μg/m³ in the industrial area and approximately 2 times as higher as that in the residential area. 16 priority PAHs listed by US-EPA were extracted in a mixture solution of dichloromethane and n-hexan (1-1, v/v) using an ultrasonic bath and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography system with ultra-violet detector (HPLC-UVD). The concentrations of total PAHs ranged from 11.1 to 33.7 ng/m³, with an average of 21.49 ng/m³. Flouranthene, pyrene, benzo[k]flouranthene and dibenzo[a,h]athracene were identified as the dominant PAH compounds. Based on PAH diagnostic ratio, the main sources of PAHs in PM₁₀ included oil combustion, diesel emissions and gasoline vehicular emissions.