[Pollution Characteristics and Source Analysis of Atmospheric PM_2.5-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in a Port...

In order to explore the pollution characteristics and potential sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the polluted air of a port area, PM_2.5 samples (n=59) were collected from Qingdao Port for four seasons from August 2018 to May 2019. The seasonal variation and composition characteristics of PM_2.5-bound PAHs were analyzed, the influence of meteorological factors on PAH concentrations was explored using correlation analysis, and the potential sources were analyzed using positive definite matrix factorization and potential source contribution function models. The results showed that the total mean concentration of PAHs was (8.11±12.31) ng·m^-3, which was higher in autumn and winter than that in spring and summer. The seasonal molecular compositions of PAHs were similar, dominated by 4-5 ring PAHs (75.43%). Fluoranthene, benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and chrysene were the dominant species of PAHs in the study area, which are similar to the major compounds in ship exhaust. Correlation analysis showed that PAH concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with temperature and relative humidity and significantly positively correlated with atmospheric pressure and wind direction and had a poor correlation with wind speed. PMF analysis extracted six contribution factors, and the results indicated that Qingdao Port was mainly influenced by shipping emissions (28.83%), followed by vehicle emissions (20.49%), as well as crude oil volatilization (13.47%). Summer had the greatest impact on shipping emissions. The PSCF results suggested that Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Bohai Rim, and northern Shandong were the main source regions for long-range transport.