Human exposure to PAHs: Accurate determination of PAHs and XPAHs using a silicone passive sampler

Over the past decade, the silicone passive sampling method has been employed for individual exposure assessments of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, the determination of PAHs from the samples collected using silicone passive samplers has not been discussed. To rapidly and accurately determine PAHs and halogenated PAHs (XPAHs), we simplified the pretreatment method for silicone passive samplers and evaluated the effects of wind during the sampling period. The pretreatment method was simplified using ultrahigh-purity silicone rubber as a passive sampler. The effects of wind on the sampling rates (SRs) were theoretically described. The experimental data followed the theoretical relationship between the wind speed and SRs on the silicone passive sampler below a wind speed of 5.5 m s^-1. The concentrations of atmospheric PAHs and XPAHs within four or five orders of magnitude were accurately determined within an error of 1/3-3 times by a theoretical consideration of the wind speed effect. These findings reveal that the concentrations of atmospheric PAHs and XPAHs can be rapidly and accurately determined from amounts collected using ultrahigh-purity silicone rubber as a passive sampler and correcting for the wind speed effect.