Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the particles emitted from the diesel and gasoline engines

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contaminants widespread in the environment and vehicular emissions have long been recognized as the most important anthropogenic sources of PAHs in urban air Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted in the exhaust gases of diesel and petrol engines using different fuels were quantified. Size fractionated chemical analysis of particles in vehicle emissions were carried out by sampling with an electrical low pressure multi-stage impactor ELPI. The mean concentrations of total PAHs adsorbed onto the particulate matter in the rage of 0.03-0.25 μm emitted from the exhaust gases were 48.3, 128.2 and 83.0 ng·m⁻³, respectively from three kinds of diesel fuels. Results indicated that PAHs present in the last two fraction (0.17-0.25 μm) have the highest contribution in the total content of these compounds. In the collected fractions of particulate matter emitted in gasoline engine exhaust 12 compounds were identified in the 0.25 µm fraction and 9 PAHs in the 0.17 µm fraction.