Atmospheric Benzo[a]pyrene and vanadium evidence for the presence of petroleum coke dust in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada

Oil mining activities may link to the air quality in Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs, dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), and trace metals in aerosol samples at three near source sites (AMS11, AMS05 and AMS13) in the Fort MacKay and Fort McMurray area during January 2011 to December 2014, were collected and analyzed. Concentrations of total PAHs, total alkylated PAHs, DBTs decreased as the distance from the geographical reference point increased. Average concentrations of Benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P) and Vanadium (V) were from 0.42 to 0.68 ng m−3, and from 1.14 to 1.36 ng m−3 respectively at AMS11, from 0.10 to 0.14 ng m−3, and from 0.79 to 1.45 ng m−3 respectively at AMS05, and from 0.03 to 0.06 ng m−3, and from 0.56 to 0.80 ng m−3 respectively at AMS13 during 2011-2014. High V, B(a)P, total PAHs, total alkylated-PAHs, DBTs and Alkylated DBTs were observed in AMS11, especially in the south and south-eastern wind direction, suggesting that V and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) could come from the same pollution source. High positive correlation between V and B(a)P only appeared at the AMS11 site, especially in the prevailing wind sector. Together with the principal component analysis (PCA) results and Fluoranthene/(Fluoranthene + Pyrene) ratio, all further confirmed the common petrogenic source, that was petroleum coke dust, contributing to atmospheric PAHs and metals.