Air pollution in Southeast Asia is of ongoing concern due to increasing industrialization, raising populations and periodic haze episodes brought about by slash-and-burn practices. Particulate Matter (PM) is categorized as one of the six criteria pollutants, and possibly the most important in terms of adverse effects on human health such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.1 Because of its complex physical and chemical properties it has always been a challenge to characterize all the pollutants related to Particulate Matter (PM). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most toxic pollutants, associated with PM. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) lists 16 main PAHs considered to be human carcinogens which are found in every environmental matrix.2-3 Thus, understanding the sources and levels of PAHs in the atmosphere is of crucial importance so as to be able to monitor and take preventive action to improve air quality. The subject of this study is to develop an improved analytical method to identify, quantify and determine source contributors of the USEPA priority listed 16 PAHs in the atmosphere in Singapore using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. REFERENCES: (1) Ostro, B., W.Y. Feng, R. Broadwin, S. Green, and M. Lipsett. “The effects of components of fine particulate air pollution on mortality in California: results from CALFINE.” Environmental Health Perspectives 115 (2007): 13–19. (2) USEPA. “Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry.” 1999. (3) Poster, D.L., M.M. Schantz, L.C. Sander, and S.A. Wise. “Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental samples: a critical review of gas chromatographic (GC) methods.” Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 386 (2006): 859-881.

Characterization of particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere in Singapore using gas chromatography mass spectrometry

251st National Meeting (2016)

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