QUANTIFICATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS AND THEIR NITRO-DERIVATIVES IN ATMOSPHERIC PARTICULATE MATTER OF AUGUSTA CITY

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitro derivatives (N -PAHs) have been measured in atmospheric particulate matter of Augusta city at several times during the year. The samples collected have bee n extracted in a soxhlet apparatus with acetonitrile. Purification and enrichment was carried out by reverse solid phase extraction, and the analysis was by HPLC and a fluorescent detector of variable wavelengt h for the PAHs and GC/NPD for the N-PAHs. The highest averages of tota l PAHs and N-PAH are in the winter directly correlating with temperatu re and environmental condition such as type and intensity of traffic.