Studies on Presence of PAHs in Ambient Air of Gwalior City

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons often are by product of petroleum processing or combustion. Many of these compounds are highly carcinogenic at relatively low levels. Highly carcinogenic & mutagenic compounds such as Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH's), Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCB's), Alkenes, Olefins etc. are emitted into the atmosphere as a result of incomplete combustion of fuel. Among the various organic pollutants in air, PAHs are the largest single class of known carcinogens. They are a class of organic fraction associated with suspended particulate matter (SPM) and are widely disseminated throughout the atmosphere. Both forms, in gaseous state as well as in particulate matter in bounded form can be inhaled into the lungs. Out of sixteen PAH's Benzo(a) Anthracene [B{a}A], Benzo (b) Flouranthene [B{b}F] and Benzo (a) Pyrene [B{a}P] are known to be potentially weak, and moderate carcinogenic selected for this study. This report presents the profile of PAH, monitored in the particle bound ambient air of Gwalior region in Madhya Pradesh . High Volume Sampler collected the ambient air particulate on the filter paper. Extracted samples were analyzed by capillary Gas Chromatography using FID. During study period it was observed that B(a)A concentration ranging from "BDL" to 156ng/m3, B(b)F concentration ranging from "BDL" to 128 ng/m3 and B(a)P was ranged from "BDL" to 101 ng/m³. During the winter season the concentration of PAH's recorded higher as compare to monsoon & summer seasons. This might be due to foggy conditions in winter.