Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Mumbai, India

Atmospheric particulate PAH concentrations were measured at two locations i n Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. Total PAH concentrations (seven compound s) at Saki Naka and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) were 38.8 and 24.5 ng m(-3). Pyrene and benz(a)anthracene + chrysene were abundant at both si tes while benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene were abundant, in a ddition, at the IIT site. The large amount of pyrene in the ambient samples in Mumbai is likely from cooking-fuel combustion (animal manure, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas) in addition to vehicular emissions. Pyrene and chrysene are also emitted from industrial oil burning while the low concen trations of benzo(a)pyrene indicate that wood burning is not a significant source. At the IIT site, primarily vehicular emissions along with cooking f uel emissions are the likely contributors while industrial oil burning is a n additional contributor at Saki Naka, accounting for the higher concentrat ions of pyrene and chrysene/benz(a)anthracene. In urban areas vehicular emi ssions are likely to be the primary contributor to PAH concentrations with additional local contributors like cooking fuel or industrial emissions. (C ) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.