Organic air pollutants in an aluminum reduction plant

The content of organic pollutants, other than polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), was determined in air samples collected in the potroom of a Söderberg aluminum reduction plant. The neutral and the basic fractions of the sample extract were analysed, and aza-arenes, carbazoles, 1-nitropyrene and quinones as well as aromatic aldehydes and ketones were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Selected compounds were quantified and the results indicate that the concentrations in the potroom atmosphere are high. Some of the identified compounds are known to have adverse health effects, and should therefore be included whenever air quality studies are carried out inside or near aluminum plants.