Shui-Ping Wu1,2, Xin-Hong Wang 1,2, Hua-Sheng Hong1,2, Jing-Ming Yan1,2
Received:
February 28, 2009
Revised:
February 28, 2009
Accepted:
February 28, 2009
Download Citation:
||https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2008.10.0047
Cite this article:
Wu, S.P., Wang, X.H., Hong, H.S. and Yan, J.M. (2009). Measurement of Particulate n-alkanes and PAHs Inside and Outside a Temple in Xiamen, China.
Aerosol Air Qual. Res.
9: 120-138. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2008.10.0047
Total suspended particles samples inside and outside the South Pu-Tuo Temple (SPT), a traditional Buddhist temple in Xiamen, China were collected and further analyzed for n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the periods of worship. It was observed that the concentrations of particulate n-alkanes at SPT were abnormally higher compared to the surrounding bus terminus and campus. In addition, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) equivalent concentrations at SPT (7.1-26.3 ng/m3) were significantly higher than those at the bus terminus (5.1-6.9 ng/m3) although the PAH concentrations were comparable. The hazard potential of PAHs in terms of the carcinogenicity of BaP inside SPT is not acceptable because the indoor air quality standard of BaP recommended by the State Environmental Protection Administration of China is 1 ng/m3 (daily mean). Ratios of fluoranthene to fluoranthene plus pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene to indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene plus benzo[g,h,i]perylene and 1,7-DMP (dimethylphenanthrene) to 2,6-DMP plus 1,7-DMP were further calculated; the values of these three together with the ratio of retene to phenanthrene separated the SPT samples from the bus terminus samples, in that SPT samples showed a strong influence of wood burning (such as bamboo sticks, stick coatings, and joss paper).
ABSTRACT
Keywords:
Particulate matter; n-alkanes; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Health risk; Incense burning
