Origins of regulated semi-volatile PAHs and metals near an industrial area and a highway in the region of Alexandroupolis, Greece

Monitoring of regulated PAHs and metals in PM₁₀ near an industrial area and a new highway was carried out between May 2009 and February 2011. Concentrations of 13 regulated PAHs and three elements (arsenic, cadmium and nickel) associated with PM₁₀ were determined. The results from 72 samples corresponding to 72 calendar weeks (one 24-h sample per week) indicate that the mean concentration value of the mass of PM₁₀ was 39.41 μg m⁻³, of benzo[a]pyrene 0.060 ng m⁻³, of cadmium 0.026 ng m⁻³ and of nickel 0.057 ng m⁻³. Atmospheric arsenic concentrations in the area were not detectable. The metal and PAH concentrations never exceeded the mean annual levels set by the European legislation. The daily limit of the mass concentration of PM₁₀ exceeded 19 times during the period of sampling. Diagnostic ratios of the PAHs were employed to estimate their source profile. The identified sources were domestic heating fuel and vehicular emissions (petrol and diesel). Back and forward trajectories indicated that the area was not an important source of the abovementioned regulated pollutants and that the transfer of pollutants from the highway to the monitoring station was equally as important as local emissions.