Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the airborne particulate matter at a location 40 km north of Bangkok, Thailand

Total suspended particulate matter in ambient air was sampled by high-volum e samplers at four sites at the Asian Institute of Technology campus, west of the Phahonyothin Road, Phathumthani Province, 40 km North of Bangkok, Th ailand. The concentrations of 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), we re measured by gas chromatography with flame ionisation and/or liquid chrom atography with fluorescence detection. The PAH profile with relatively high concentrations of benzo(ghi)perylene and coronene, decreasing with the dis tance from the road, suggested a substantial contribution from the traffic. The concentrations in the core of the campus were in the same range as tho se reported for residential areas in the Bangkok Metropolitan. (C) 2000 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.