The seasonal changes in the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in precipitation and aerosol near Lake Balaton, Hungary

Concentrations of PAHs showed seasonal variation in both precipitation and aerosol samples, with the highest concentrations in the winter. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric precipitation and aerosol samples was monitored in a rural site by Lake Balaton, Hungary to examine the seasonal variation. The seasonal mean concentration of individual 3-6-ring PAHs in precipitation varied from 1 to 54 ng l −1 and from 3 to 350 ng l −1 in summer and winter, respectively. In the atmospheric aerosol samples the seasonal mean concentration of PAHs varied from 4 to 880 pg m −3, from 4 to 300 pg m −3, from 11 to 1050 pg m −3 and from 36 to 5000 pg m −3 in spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively. Wet (412 μg m −2 year −1) and aerosol (190–300 μg m 2 year −1) deposition rates were also estimated indicating that the two processes are of comparable importance in the removal of 3-6-ring PAHs from the atmosphere.