Publication Date
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Daniel Bombick (Committee Member), Steven Higgins (Committee Member), Audrey Mcgowin (Advisor)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Samples of filters from High-volume (HiVol) samplers of particulate matter (PM) with a size of 10 micrometers or less were deployed for five months in Moraine and Yellow Springs, OH, by the Regional Air Protection Control Agency and analyzed for the Environmental Pollution Agency (EPA) 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Pine needles on trees near the HiVol samplers were also collected and analyzed for a comparison with the active samplers to estimate atmospheric PAH concentrations. Pine needles were found to collect lower molecular weight (LMW) compounds far more than HiVol sampler and thus their profiles shown to compliment the HiVol sampler profile which collect higher molecular weight (HMW) compounds. Concentrations for filters and Yellow Springs pine needles, except for Moraine pine needles, increased as the average temperature decreased. The atmospheric concentrations (ΣPAHatm) were calculated for the last ten PAHs that overlapped in the pine needle and filter profiles (Fluoranthene-Benzo(ghi)perylene). The ΣPAHatm calculated for Moraine ranged from 0.32 ng/m3 to 1.69 ng/m3 while Yellow Springs ranged from 0.32 ng/m3 to 4.16 ng/m3. These values are lower than expected especially for Moraine since there is industry nearby. PAH compounds from the pine needles were mostly associated with the vapor phase while the filters collected PAHs in the PM10 phase. Pine needles have been shown to be useful in showing the additional LMW PAHs present in the atmosphere which HiVol samplers fails to collect.
Page Count
94
Department or Program
Department of Chemistry
Year Degree Awarded
2010
Copyright
Copyright 2010, all rights reserved. This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.
