Nitrated and oxygenated derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ambient air of two French alpine valleys Part 1:Concentrations, sources and gas/particle partitioning

The level of nitrated and oxygenated derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the ambient air of two French alpine valleys was assessed. Two types of high volume samplers were used to collect PAHs and their derivatives. During both summer and winter campaigns conducted at Chamonix valley (Cv) and Maurienne valley (Mv) in 2002-2003, oxygenated PAH (OPAH) concentration levels were of the same order of magnitude as PAHs while nitrated PAH (NPAH) concentrations were one to two orders of magnitude lower. The fraction of PAHs, OPAHs and NPAHs associated with the particle phase was strongly dependent on their vapour pressure and on the ambient conditions.