Field evaluation of a cost-effective screening procedure for polynuclear aromatic pollutants in ambient air samples

The use of two simple, cost-effective luminescence techniques for screening ambient air particulate samples was assessed in a field evaluation. Synchronous luminescence and room temperature phosphorescence were used to estimate the content of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon species in air particulate extracts collected at two wood-burning communities. The validity and efficacy of the screening techniques are demonstrated by the good agreement between screening data and results obtained by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. The screening approach can readily distinguish between samples whose hydrocarbon content differs much less than one order of magnitude.