Nitrated and oxygenated derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ambient air of two French alpine valleys Part 2: Particle size distribution

The size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PAH derivatives was determined during the intensive sampling campaigns of the POVA (Pollution des Vallées Alpines) research programme, in two French alpine valleys, in winter and summer. The size distributions of PAHs, oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs) and nitrated PAHs (NPAHs) present large variations with year time and site type (traffic; suburban and rural). In general, these compounds were mainly associated (60–90%) with fine particles (Dp<1.3 μm) in agreement with their release from sources (primary and/or secondary). The pollutant distributions with particle size were unimodal and centred at 0.85 μm both in the Chamonix and Maurienne valleys. The summer size distribution of NPAHs was centred at Dp=2.75 μm. PAH, OPAH and NPAH super micrometre fractions were significantly larger in summer for most sites suggesting the existence of a second mode in that particle size range. A possible reason to explain this phenomenon is that aerosol was locally polluted and characterised by fine particles in winter whereas in summer, aerosol was more mixed and older with possibilities of adsorption of gaseous organic compounds at the surface of the pre-exiting particles. In summer, NPAHs were associated to a greater degree with the super micrometre fraction of the aerosol than the other categories of compounds.