Toxicity evaluation and source apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) at three stations in Istanbul, Turkey

- We determined 16 PAHs and TSPs in 326 airborne samples in Istanbul.
- We calculated Benzo(a)Pyren toxic equivalency factors to PAH concentration values.
- For source identification of PAHs, diagnostic ratios and the PMF model were applied.
- Diesel vehicles were major sources of PAHs in Istanbul.

This paper focuses on the toxicity evaluation and source apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in three monitoring stations in Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 326 airborne samples were collected and analyzed for 16 PAHs and Total Suspended Particles (TSP) for the period of September 2006-December 2007. The total average PAH concentrations were 100.7 ± 61.3, 84.6 ± 46.7 and 25.1 ± 13.3 ng m− 3 and the TSP concentrations were 101.2 ± 53.2, 152.3 ± 99.1, 49.8 ± 18.6 μg m− 3 for URB1, URB2 and RUR stations, respectively. Benzo(a)Pyren (BaP) toxic equivalency factors to PAH concentration values were calculated indicating that the health risk of BaP and DiBenz(a,h)Anthracene (markers of traffic emissions) have the highest contribution compared to all of the other species measured at the sampling sites. In order to determine PAH sources, two different source apportionment techniques were applied to the measurements; diagnostic ratios (DR) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). The results of the two applications were compatible indicating the vehicle emissions - especially diesel engines - as the major source for urban stations.