AUTOMOTIVE SOURCES OF CARCINOGENIC POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION

The authors analyzed greater than 400 particulate samples collected from throughout the Chesapeake Bay region between 1991 and 1998 for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Isomer ratios of PAHs associated with aerosol and surface water particles demonstrate that motor vehicles are a major source of carcinogenic combustion-derived PAHs to Chesapeake Bay. Most of the benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and their isomers in air, rain, and surface waters of Chesapeake Bay appear to be derived from automotive sources. Lesser, but still significant amounts (53(plus or minus 5)%) of these PAHs in the sea surface microlayer near urban areas are motor vehicle-derived, with 47(plus or minus5)% being coal-derived. In contrast, PAHs in surface sediments of Chesapeake Bay are predominantly coal-derived (86(plus or minus 8)%) and at most 15(plus or minus 8)% motor vehicle-derived. Thus, carcinogenic PAHs input to the bay from motor vehicles are either degraded prior to deposition to the sediments or are diluted by previously deposited coal-derived PAHs in the seabed. Like anthropogenic nitrogen (NOx), which leads to coastal eutrophication, managing the impact of carcinogenic PAHs on coastal regions will need to focus on motor vehicle use, which continues to outpace population growth in areas such as Chesapeake Bay. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0013936X
• Corporate Authors:

  American Chemical Society

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  Washington, DC  United States  20036
• Authors:
  • DICKHUT, R M
  • CANUEL, E A
  • GUSTAFSON, K E
  • Liu, K
  • ARZAYUS, K M
  • WALKER, S E
  • EDGECOMBE, G
  • GAYLOR, M O
  • MACDONALD, E H
• Publication Date: 2000-11-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 4635-40
• Serial:
  • Environmental Science & Technology
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue Number: 21
  • Publisher: American Chemical Society
  • ISSN: 0013-936X
  • EISSN: 1520-5851
  • Serial URL: http://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aromatic hydrocarbons; Particles; Pollutants; Toxicity
• ITRD Terms: 7358: Aromatic compounds; 4511: Particle; 2431: Pollutant; 2142: Toxicity
• Subject Areas: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00802918
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 8 2000 12:00AM