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Persistent organic pollutants in tropical coastal and offshore environment: part A—atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Lai, I.-C.; Lee, C.-L.; Ko, F.-C.; Lin, J.-C. & Huang, H.-C.
Abstract
Air samples were collected at four sites from
August 2009 to May 2010. Temporal variation of polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations showed
the highest concentration in November and the lowest in
May, except for one case attributable to a specific meteorological
event, a typhoon, which resulted in a dramatic
increase in PAHs concentrations. PAH compositional pattern,
diagnostic ratios, hierarchical cluster analysis, and
principal component analysis indicated that the major
sources of PAHs in the Gaoping coastal area were local
vehicle emissions, stationary sources, and coal/wood
combustion. In addition, the distinct compositional patterns
at each sampling site suggested that sources of PAHs
varied with sampling periods. Back trajectory analysis
indicated that transport pathway and moving speed of air
parcels were two important factors that influence temporal
and spatial variation of PAH concentrations. Air parcel
pathways and PAH compositional patterns also indicated
that PAHs observed at an offshore island (Liu-Chiu Isle) in
November were affected by sources in the southwest
coastal area of Taiwan. The data set of PAH concentrations
built in this study provides useful information to estimate
air–water exchange behavior of PAHs and to investigate
the fate of PAHs in the Gaoping coastal area.
Keywords
Seasonal variation; Source identification; Back trajectory analysis; Air parcel pathway
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