Source Apportionment and Toxic Potency of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Air of Harbin, a Cold City in Northern China

Abstract

A total of 68 PUF samples were collected seasonally from 17 sampling sites in Harbin, China from May 2016 to April 2017 for analyzing 15 congeners of gaseous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Σ15PAHs). An improved non-negative matrix (NMF) model and a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model were used to apportion the sources of PAHs. The carcinogenic risk due to exposure to PAHs was estimated by the toxicity equivalent of BaP (BaPeq). The results showed that the average concentration of Σ15PAHs was 68.3 ± 22.3 ng/m3, and the proportions of 3-ring, 4-ring, 5-ring, and 6-ring PAHs were 64.4%, 32.6%, 2.10%, and 0.89%, respectively. Among the six typical functional areas in Harbin, the Σ15PAHs concentrations were 98.1 ± 76.7 ng/m3, 91.2 ± 76.2 ng/m3, 71.4 ± 75.6 ng/m3, 67.9 ± 65.6 ng/m3, 42.6 ± 34.7 ng/m3, and 38.5 ± 38.0 ng/m3 in the wastewater treatment plant, industrial zone, business district, residential area, school, and suburb, respectively. During the sampling period, the highest concentration of Σ15PAHs was in winter. The improved NMF model and PMF model apportioned the PAHs into three sources including coal combustion, biomass burning, and vehicle exhaust. The contributions of coal combustion, biomass burning, and vehicle exhausts were 34.6 ± 3.22%, 48.6 ± 4.03%, and 16.8 ± 5.06%, respectively. Biomass burning was the largest contributor of Σ15PAHs concentrations in winter and coal combustion contributed significantly to the concentrations in summer. The average ΣBaPeq concentration was 0.54 ± 0.23 ng/m3 during the sampling period, high concentrations occurred in the cold season and low levels presented in the warm period. Vehicle exhaust was the largest contributor to the ΣBaPeq concentration of PAHs in Harbin.

Keywords

• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• atmosphere
• source apportionment
• toxic potency
• Harbin