Author(s)

P. Alvino, D. Brocco & A. Cecinato

Abstract

Carbonaceous material, alkanes, long-chain carboxylic acids and PAHs in PM10: concentration levels and sources in Rome P. Avino1, D. Brocco2 and A. Cecinato2 1 ISPESL - Dipartimento lnsediamenti Produttivi ed Interazione con l 'Ambiente, Monte Povzio Catone (Rome), Italy. 2 Istituto Inquinumento Atmosferico - C.N.R,Monterotondo St. (Rome), Italy. Abstract An investigation of fine particulate matter (PM) has been carried out in order to determine organic and elemental carbon in two sites of urban area of Rome. The organic, carbon composition has been studied to determine the alkanes, the long-chain carboxylic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by means an HRW-MS procedure. The results show the carbonaceous material constitute a significant fraction of the total aerosol mass (25-30%). The n-alkanes is the major constituents of the organic aerosol and the n-alkanoic acids have been identified coming from both anthropogenic and biogenic aemissions. The PAHs and, particularly, those with potential mutagenic and carcinogenic activity, are about 0.5% of organic compounds and their transformation products, i.d nitro-PAHs are at very low levels. 1 Introduction Carbonaceous material is a large -on of urban aerosol and it is classified into elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC). EC in particles is emitted from combustion sources. Because most combustion sources are anthropogenic and generally EC does not undergo chemical transformations, EC is a good indicator of primary anthropogenic primary pollution. OC in particles species are emitted from primary emission sources either anthropogenic or biogenic

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