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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric urban area: monitoring on various types of sites

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Abstract

The air quality over the Toulouse urban area (France) is recorded daily by the regional “Midi-Pyrénées” atmospheric pollution measurements network (ORAMIP). Relevant data is collected from about 100 analysers spread over more than thirty stations. The regulations covering major indicators of atmospheric pollution (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide) have been updated in recent years to include additional compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The ORAMIP, in partnership with the ENSIACET has undertaken background PAH average concentration measurements over the urban agglomeration of Toulouse during spring 2006 for various types of sites (traffic, urban, industrial). The sampling was performed using a low volume air sampler equipped with quartz fiber filters and polyurethane foams For the two urban sites, total atmospheric concentrations between 12 and 20 ng/m3 have been obtained, whereas for the industrial site the values averaged 22 ng/m3. In addition, and regardless of site, the average concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene, at present the only regulated PAH, were always less than the 1 ng/m3 limit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-Industrielle, UMR 1010INRA/INP, Ecole Nationale Supérieure en Arts Chimiques et Technologiques–118, Route de Narbonne, 31077, Toulouse Cedex, France

    Solène Dejean, Christine Raynaud & Valérie Simon

  2. Observatoire Régional de l’Air en Midi-Pyrénées–19, Avenue Clément Ader, 31770, Colomiers, France

    Solène Dejean, Mariam Meybeck & Jean-Pierre Della Massa

Authors
  1. Solène Dejean
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  2. Christine Raynaud
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  3. Mariam Meybeck
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  4. Jean-Pierre Della Massa
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  5. Valérie Simon
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Correspondence to Valérie Simon.

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Dejean, S., Raynaud, C., Meybeck, M. et al. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric urban area: monitoring on various types of sites. Environ Monit Assess 148, 27–37 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-0136-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-0136-y

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