Derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as nitrated- and oxygenated-PAHs (NPAHs and OPAHs) could be even more toxic and harmful for the environment and humans than PAHs. We assessed the spatial and seasonal variations of NPAHs and OPAHs atmospheric levels, their cancer risks and their gas-to-particle partitioning. To this end, about 250 samples of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and 50 gaseous samples were collected in 2017 in central Europe in the cities of Brno and Ljubljana (two traffic and two urban background sites) as well as one rural site. The average particulate concentrations were ranging from below limit of quantification to 593 pg m-3 for Σ9NPAHs and from 1.64 to 4330 pg m-3 for Σ11OPAHs, with significantly higher concentrations in winter compared to summer. In winter, the particulate levels of NPAHs and OPAHs were higher at the traffic site compared to the urban background site in Brno while the opposite was found in Ljubljana. NPAHs and OPAHs particulate levels were influenced by the meteorological parameters and co-varied with several air pollutants. The significance of secondary formation on the occurrence of some NPAHs and OPAHs is indicated. In winter, 27-47% of samples collected at all sites were above the acceptable lifetime carcinogenic risk. The gas-particle partitioning of NPAHs and OPAHs was influenced by their physico-chemical properties, the season and the site-specific aerosol composition. Three NPAHs and five OPAHs had higher particulate mass fractions at the traffic site, suggesting they could be primarily emitted as particles from vehicle traffic and subsequently partitioning to the gas phase along air transport. This study underlines the importance of inclusion of the gas phase in addition to the particulate phase when assessing the atmospheric fate of polycyclic aromatic compounds and also when assessing the related health risk.

• Klíčová slova
• Atmosphere, Cancer risk, Fine particles, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Spatial variations,
• MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• nádory * epidemiologie   MeSH
• pevné částice analýza   MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * analýza   MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• velkoměsta MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch * MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * MeSH

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common atmospheric pollutants and known to cause adverse health effects. Nitrated PAHs (NPAHs) are formed in combustion activities and by nitration of PAHs in the atmosphere and may be equally or more toxic, but their spatial and temporal distribution in the atmosphere is not well characterized. Using the global EMAC model with atmospheric chemistry and surface compartments coupled, we investigate the formation, abundance, and fate of two secondarily formed NPAHs, 2-nitrofluoranthene (2-NFLT) and 2-nitropyrene (2-NPYR). The default reactivity scenario, the model with the simplest interpretation of parameters from the literature, tends to overestimate both absolute concentrations and NPAH/PAH ratios at observational sites. Sensitivity scenarios indicate that NO2-dependent NPAH formation leads to better agreement between measured and predicted NPAH concentrations and that photodegradation is the most important loss process of 2-NFLT and 2-NPYR. The highest concentrations of 2-NFLT and 2-NPYR are found in regions with strong PAH emissions, but because of continued secondary formation from the PAH precursors, these two NPAHs are predicted to be spread across the globe.

• MeSH
• atmosféra MeSH
• fluoreny MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * analýza   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * analýza   MeSH
• pyreny MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2-nitrofluoranthene MeSH Prohlížeč
• 2-nitropyrene MeSH Prohlížeč
• fluoreny MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * MeSH
• pyreny MeSH