STABILITY OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS AND THEIR OXYGENATED DERIVATIVES DURING VARIOUS STORAGE

The stability of 61 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (27 nonpol ar, 20 oxygenated, and 14 deuterated PAHs) in quartz fiber filters wit h or without airborne particulates, and acetonitrile during storage un der different conditions was investigated using gas chromatography-mas s spectrometry (GC-MS). Most of the investigated PAHs except 11 volati le PAHs in quartz fiber filters, and all of PAHs in acetonitrile were stable during 1 week storage and 4 week-storage in a refrigerator at 4 degrees C, respectively. It was found that 14 PAHs in quartz fiber fi lters and 9 PAHs in airborne particulates decreased less than 70% unde r UV light during 2 weeks. Photodegradation of PAHs spiked in quartz f iber filters under UV storage was faster than those in airborne partic ulates. Thirty-two and 39 PAHs in acetonitrile decreased less than 70% during 2 week-storage and 4 week-storage under sunlight by the window , respectively. Photo-changed compounds such as anthracene, benz[a]ant hracene, naphthacene, 9-anthraldehyde, acenaphthenequinone and anthrac ene-d(10) were tentatively identified by GC-MS. It was clarified that nonpolar and oxygenated PAHs were gradually changed into their oxygena ted derivatives such as quinones and ketones. Consequently, it is reco mmendable that the airborne particulate sample and standard solution f or PAHs should be kept without light such as in a refrigerator.