Brown, A S; Brown, R J C (2012) Correlations in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in UK ambient air and implications for source apportionment. J. Enviorn. Monit., 14 (8). pp. 2072-2082.

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Abstract

The extent of correlation in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration data obtained by the UK PAH Monitoring and Analysis Air Quality Network from March 2008 to November 2010 has been assessed. Application of principal component analysis (PCA) to the dataset has revealed that the concentrations of the vast majority of PAHs are very highly correlated. The use of diagnostic PAH ratios (including a new benzo[b]naph[2,1-d]thiophene / benzo[a]pyrene diagnostic ratio), and a novel `combined diagnostic ratio - PCA' approach has revealed information about the main sources of PAH at individual Network sites, allowing the sites to be grouped in terms of those influenced by solid fuel use, industry and traffic, and those of an urban or rural nature. Solid fuel use has also been delineated from other fuel burning by the use of a novel diagnostic ratio. Conclusions are drawn about a number of UK PAH Network sites - four sites are shown to be influenced significantly by solid fuel use, and the sites in South Wales and at London Marylebone Road are found to be located in distinct and unusual PAH pollution climates - the identification of a unique PAH pollution climate in South Wales is a key and novel conclusion of the work.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, ambient air, concentration, correlation, principal component analysis, diagnostic ratio
Subjects:	Analytical Science Analytical Science > Gas Standards
Identification number/DOI:	10.1039/c2em10963h
Last Modified:	02 Feb 2018 13:14
URI:	https://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/5555