Analytical Sciences

Retrospective Analyses of Atmospheric Polycyclic and Nitropolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Industrial Area of a Western Site of Japan

Naoya KISHIKAWA,* Ayuko IHARA,* Masae SHIROTA,* Mitsuhiro WADA,* Yoshihito OHBA,* Nobuyuki SERA,** Kenichiro NAKASHIMA,* and Naotaka KURODA*

*Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Course of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
**Department of Health Science, Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, 39 Mukaizano, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0135, Japan

Thirteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and four nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) on the surfaces of airborne particulates, which were collected at an industrial area of a western site of Japan during periods from 1976 to 1998, were retrospectively analyzed. PAHs and NPAHs were extracted from airborne particulates using hexane with ultrasonication, and then analyzed by HPLC systems with fluorescence detection and chemiluminescence detection, respectively. The total concentrations (mean ± SD, n = 34) were 15.54 ± 21.24 ng/m³ for PAHs and 5.85 ± 8.16 pg/m³ for NPAHs. The concentrations of PAHs and NPAHs were found to be highest during the period between 1979 and 1982, and then reduced. The annual concentrations of PAHs and NPAHs were highly correlated with those of air pollutants from motor vehicle origin, such as carbon monoxide, suspended particulates and non-methane hydrocarbons. The results suggested that motor vehicle emissions were one of the predominant sources of atmospheric PAHs and NPAHs.

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