The Influence of Transport on PAHs and Other Carbonaceous Species’ (OC, EC) Concentration in Aerosols in the Coastal Zone of the Gulf of Gdansk (Gdynia)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of transport on the concentration of carbon species in aerosols collected in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Gdansk in the period outside the heating season. Elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and the ΣPAHs5 concentrations were measured in aerosols of two size: <3 μm (respirable aerosols) and >3 μm in diameter (inhalable aerosols). Samples were collected between 13 July 2015 and 22 July 2015 (holiday period) and between 14 September 2015 and 30 September 2015 (school period). In both periods samples were taken only during the morning (7:00–9:00 a.m.) and afternoon (3:00–5:00 p.m.) road traffic hours. The highest mean values of the ΣPAHs5 and EC were recorded in small particles during the school period in the morning road traffic peak hours. The mean concentration of OC was the highest in small aerosols during the holiday period. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the concentrations of organic carbon in the morning and afternoon peak hours. Strict sampling and measurement procedures, together with the analysis of air mass backward trajectories and pollutant markers, indicated that the role of land transport was the greatest when local to regional winds prevailed, bringing pollution from nearby schools and the beltway.