Distribution and Source of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Nitropolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Tieling City, Liaoning Province, a Typical Local City in Northeast China

Airborne particulates were collected in three different size fractions (>7 μm; 2.1–7 μm; < 2.1 μm) by using Andersen low-volume air samplers at three sites in Tieling city, Liaoning Province, a typical local city in northeast China, in every season during the period from July 2003 to May 2004. Nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and seven nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) in the airborne particulates were determined by HPLC with fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection, respectively. The mean total concentrations of the nine PAHs and seven NPAHs were highest at The mixed residential and light industrial site, and lowest at the residential site near the suburbs. At all sites, more than 70% of the total PAHs and more than 60% of the total NPAHs were found in the finest particulate (>2.1 μm) fraction. Both cluster analysis and several diagnostic ratios showed that the major contributors of PAHs and NPAHs in airborne particulates were coal combustion systems such as domestic stoves and coal boilers in all seasons in Tieling city.