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Determination of chloroacetates in atmospheric particulate matter
Evangelos B Bakeas1, Athina G Economou, Panayotis A Siskos
1Environmental Analysis Group, Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15771 Zografos, Athens, Greece.
Abstract:
Chloroacetates (CAAs) are ubiquitous in the environment. This study presents chloroacetates level in atmospheric particulate matter (APM) collected at Athens center. CAAs have been derivatized to their respective propyl esters and determined by gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD). Monochloroacetate (MCA) was the most abundant, followed by dichloroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA). Concentration values range from 3.0 to 8240 ng g(-1) (0.6-2010 pg m(-3)). Correlations to meteorological and pollution parameters are discussed, indicating that car exhausts may be a direct or indirect source of MCA, but origin from natural marine sources may also be relevant.