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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the snow cover of the northern city agglomeration
Summary
Researchers measured 16 toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) — cancer-linked chemicals produced by burning fossil fuels — in snow samples across Arkhangelsk, one of the world's northernmost major cities. Pollution levels were low to moderate, with vehicle traffic and solid fuel burning identified as the main sources.
Sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection in snow samples collected at 46 sites of Arkhangelsk as a world's largest city above 64 degrees north latitude. The average, maximum and minimum PAH concentrations in snow were 168, 665, and 16 ng/kg, respectively. The average toxic equivalent value in benzo(a)pyrene units was 3.6 ng/kg, which is three-fold lower than the established maximum permissible concentration and considered an evidence of a low/moderate level of snow pollution with PAHs. The pollution origin was assessed using specific markers based on PAHs ratios in the studied samples. The pyrogenic sources of PAH emission were predominate, whereas the significant contributions from both transport and solid fuel combustion were observed. Benzo(a)pyrene concentrations are highly correlated with the levels of other PAHs with higher molecular weights.
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