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. 2013 Jun;20(6):4154-63.
doi: 10.1007/s11356-012-1315-0. Epub 2012 Dec 18.

Factors controlling benzo(a)pyrene concentration in aerosols in the urbanized coastal zone. A case study: Gdynia, Poland (Southern Baltic Sea)

Marta Staniszewska  1 , Bożena Graca, Magdalena Bełdowska, Dominika Saniewska
Affiliations

Factors controlling benzo(a)pyrene concentration in aerosols in the urbanized coastal zone. A case study: Gdynia, Poland (Southern Baltic Sea)

Marta Staniszewska et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

Annual study on the benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) concentration in aerosols in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Gdansk (southern Baltic) has been performed at Gdynia station. Combustion processes, especially domestic heating of both local and regional origin, were identified as the main sources of benzo(a)pyrene in this area. Concentrations observed during the heating season (mean 2.18 ng m(-3)) were significantly higher than these recorded in the non-heating season (mean 0.05 ng m(-3)). High benzo(a)pyrene concentrations were associated with low temperature and high humidity. Whereas high levels of precipitation usually decreased the BaP concentration in aerosols. The concentration of this factor in the studied area depended also on the wind direction and air masses trajectories. During heating season, continental air masses (coming from S, SE, SW) seemed to increase benzo(a)pyrene concentration, while maritime air masses (from N, NE, NW) caused its decrease. The differences in the BaP concentration resulting from potentially different emission levels of this compound during working and non-working days were not clearly pronounced.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Location of Gdynia (the sampling place)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Benzo(a)pyrene concentrations in aerosols in Gdynia in subsequent months of the sampling period (17.XII.2007–17.XII.2008)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Factor scores for individual cases of the dataset containing meteorological conditions (V wind velocity, R amount of precipitation, T air temperature, P atmospheric pressure, W relative humidity, C BaP concentration) and benzo(a)pyrene concentration (C BaP concentration) in aerosols in Gdynia (excluding Christmas and New Year’s Eve)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Relationship between the air temperature (T) and benzo(a)pyrene concentration (C) in aerosols in Gdynia (excluding concentrations of BaP during Christmas and on the New Year’s Eve). Standard errors of regression coefficients are given in the brackets (both coefficients were statistically significant, p = 0.00)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Cluster analysis results a with regard to the air temperature and relative humidity in Gdynia (17.XII.2007–17.XII.2008), as well as b benzo(a)pyrene concentrations, c temperature, and d humidity in groups distinguished by the analysis
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Concentration of BaP and the amount of precipitation in selected cases (samples taken before, during and after an intense precipitation event)
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Change of the backward trajectories of air masses during the time when low (a 20–21.XII.2007; c 28–30.I.2008) and high (b 22–24.XII.2007) BaP concentrations were observed
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