Concentrations of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient PM2.5 and PM10 particulates in Doha, Qatar. 2019

Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
a Mechanical Engineering Program , Texas A&M University at Qatar , Doha , Qatar.

Organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and 90 organic compounds (36 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], 25 n-alkane homologues, 17 hopanes, and 12 steranes) were concurrently quantified in atmospheric particulate matter of PM2.5 and PM10. The 24-hr PM samples were collected using Harvard Impactors at a suburban site in Doha, Qatar, from May to December 2015. The mass concentrations (mean ± standard deviation) of PM2.5 and PM10 were 40 ± 15 and 145 ± 70 µg m-3, respectively, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines. Coarse particles comprised 70% of PM10. Total carbonaceous contents accounted for 14% of PM2.5 and 10% of PM10 particulate mass. The major fraction (90%) of EC was associated with the PM2.5. In contrast, 70% of OC content was found in the PM2.5-10 fraction. The secondary OC accounted for 60-68% of the total OC in both PM fractions, indicating photochemical conversions of organics are much active in the area due to higher air temperatures and solar radiations. Among the studied compounds, n-alkanes were the most abundant group, followed by PAHs, hopanes, and steranes. n-Alkanes from C25 to C35 prevailed with a predominance of odd carbon numbered congeners (C27-C31). High-molecular-weight PAHs (5-6 rings) also prevailed, within their class, with benzo[b + j]fluoranthene (Bb + jF) being the dominant member. PAHs were mainly (80%) associated with the PM2.5 fraction. Local vehicular and fugitive emissions were predominant during low-speed southeasterly winds from urban areas, while remote petrogenic/biogenic emissions were particularly significant under prevailing northwesterly wind conditions. Implications: An unprecedented study in Qatar established concentration profiles of EC, OC, and 90 organic compounds in PM2.5 and PM10. Multiple tracer organic compounds for each source can be used for convincing source apportionment. Particle concentrations exceeded WHO air quality guidelines for 82-96% of the time, revealing a severe problem of atmospheric PM in Doha. Dominance of EC and PAHs in fine particles signifies contributions from combustion sources. Dependence of pollutants concentrations on wind speed and direction suggests their significant temporal and spatial variability, indicating opportunities for improving the air quality by identifying sources of airborne contaminants.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009930 Organic Chemicals A broad class of substances containing carbon and its derivatives. Many of these chemicals will frequently contain hydrogen with or without oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and other elements. They exist in either carbon chain or carbon ring form. Organic Chemical,Chemical, Organic,Chemicals, Organic
D011084 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Aromatic hydrocarbons that contain extended fused-ring structures. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon,Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic,Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon,Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons,Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Polycyclic,Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Polynuclear,Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polycyclic,Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polynuclear,Aromatic Polycyclic Hydrocarbons,Hydrocarbon, Polycyclic Aromatic,Hydrocarbon, Polynuclear Aromatic,Hydrocarbons, Aromatic Polycyclic,Hydrocarbons, Polycyclic Aromatic,Hydrocarbons, Polynuclear Aromatic
D011780 Qatar A country in the Middle East, a peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. The capital is Doha. Katar,Quatar,State of Qatar
D002244 Carbon A nonmetallic element with atomic symbol C, atomic number 6, and atomic weight [12.0096; 12.0116]. It may occur as several different allotropes including DIAMOND; CHARCOAL; and GRAPHITE; and as SOOT from incompletely burned fuel. Carbon-12,Vitreous Carbon,Carbon 12,Carbon, Vitreous
D004784 Environmental Monitoring The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment. Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000393 Air Pollutants Any substance in the air which could, if present in high enough concentration, harm humans, animals, vegetation or materials. Substances include GASES; PARTICULATE MATTER; and volatile ORGANIC CHEMICALS. Air Pollutant,Air Pollutants, Environmental,Environmental Air Pollutants,Environmental Pollutants, Air,Air Environmental Pollutants,Pollutant, Air,Pollutants, Air,Pollutants, Air Environmental,Pollutants, Environmental Air
D000397 Air Pollution The presence of contaminants or pollutant substances in the air (AIR POLLUTANTS) that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmental effects. The substances may include GASES; PARTICULATE MATTER; or volatile ORGANIC CHEMICALS. Air Quality,Air Pollutions,Pollution, Air
D001335 Vehicle Emissions Gases, fumes, vapors, and ODORANTS escaping from the cylinders of a gasoline or diesel internal-combustion engine. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed & Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Automobile Exhaust,Diesel Exhaust,Engine Exhaust,Vehicle Emission,Vehicular Emission,Traffic-Related Pollutants,Transportation Emissions,Vehicular Emissions,Emission, Vehicle,Emission, Vehicular,Emissions, Transportation,Emissions, Vehicle,Emissions, Vehicular,Exhaust, Automobile,Exhaust, Diesel,Exhaust, Engine,Pollutants, Traffic-Related,Traffic Related Pollutants
D012621 Seasons Divisions of the year according to some regularly recurrent phenomena usually astronomical or climatic. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Seasonal Variation,Season,Seasonal Variations,Variation, Seasonal,Variations, Seasonal

Related Publications

Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
October 2009, Journal of hazardous materials,
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
July 2009, Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering,
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
December 2013, Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987),
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
October 2010, The Science of the total environment,
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
June 2021, Journal of environmental health science & engineering,
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
January 2014, Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene,
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
January 2015, Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP,
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
February 2011, Journal of environmental monitoring : JEM,
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
February 2015, Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987),
Wasim Javed, and Minas Iakovides, and Euripides G Stephanou, and Jack M Wolfson, and Petros Koutrakis, and Bing Guo
January 1974, Environmental letters,
Copied contents to your clipboard!