Occurrence of nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban particulate matter PM10

Ambient measurements of nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) were carried out during July 2000 and September–October 2000 in Santiago de Chile City. Fifteen samples of 24 h were collected at two sampling sites whose characteristics were representative of the prevailing conditions of the area. These compounds were characterized and quantified by gas chromatography mass selective detection. Atmospheric concentrations of nitro-PAHs are of interest because these compound classes include potent mutagens and carcinogens. The compounds analyzed in the samples included 1-nitropyrene, 2-nitrofluorene and 3-nitrofluoranthene. The concentration found ranged from below the detection limit in all cases to 1.8 ng m− 3 for 1-nitropyrene, to 1.12 ng m− 3 for 2-nitrofluorene and to 3.9 ng m− 3 for 3-nitrofluoranthene. This study respresents evidence of nitroaromatics in urban air particles from Santiago de Chile.