PAH AS CANDIDATE MARKERS FOR BIOMASS COMBUSTION IN THE AMAZONIAN FOREST AREA

The occurrence of substantial levels of certain PAH congeners and meth yl-PAH derivatives in airborne particles collected in the Amazonian fo rest (Alta Floresta, Brazil) in August and September 1993 is suggestiv e of extended forest fires in that area. Indeed, a similar pattern of PAH was detected on particles emitted by biomass combustion carried ou t under field and controlled conditions. The PAH distribution and comp osition recorded in the rain forest was rather different from that obs erved in urban (Sao Paulo, Brazil and Rome Italy) and suburban samples (Montelibretti, Italy) as ABP were coming from both forest combustion as well as from motorvehicle emission. The levels of total PAH in the Amazonian forest were surprisingly high when compared with those comm only found in suburban, agricultural and forest areas of Europe and No rth America.