Aliphatic alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric PM₁₀ aerosols from Baoji, China: Implications for coal burning

Normal alkanes and PAHs in atmospheric PM₁₀ aerosols collected during 2008 winter and spring in Baoji, a mid-scale inland city of China, were determined on a molecular level. Concentrations of n-alkanes ranged from 232 to 3583 ng/m³ with an average of 1733 ng/m³ in winter and from 124 to 1160 ng/m³ with an average of 449 ng/m³ in spring, while PAHs in the PM₁₀ samples were 594 ± 405 and 128 ± 82 ng/m³ in the two seasons. Molecular compositions showed that CPI (odd/even) values of n-alkanes were close to unity for all the samples especially in winter, and diagnostic ratios of PAHs (e.g., Phe/(Phe + Ant), CPAH/ΣPAHs and IcdP/(IcdP + BghiP)) were found similar to those in coal burning smoke with a strong linear relationship (R² ≥ 0.85) between PAHs and fossil fuel derived n-alkanes, demonstrating that coal burning is the main source of n-alkanes and PAHs in the city, especially in winter due to house heating. Concentrations of the determined compounds in Baoji are much higher than those in Chinese mega-cities, suggesting that air pollution in small cities in the country is more serious and need more attention.