Particulate n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere of Algiers City Area

The concentrations of particulate organic matter were measured from May to September 1998 in urban area of Algiers and in municipal waste landfill of Oued Smar. For the sake of comparability, organic aerosols were also monito red at Montelibretti (Italy) in June of the same year. In addition to n-alk anes and polycyclic: aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), monocarboxylic n-alkanoic acids accounted for a large portion of identified organic compounds of aer osol at both Algerian sites. All these species were more abundant at Oued S mar than in downtown Algiers. At the urban site, concentration levels reach ed by n-alkanes and PAH highlighted the strong impact of motor vehicle emis sion resulting over the city area. Instead, at the Oued Smar landfill n-alk ane and PAH contents depended upon the nature and account of the wastes bur nt, and their behaviours were consistent with a pyrolytic origin. Il-Alkano ic acids rather originated from the bacterial activity. By contrast, n-alka nes and n-alkanoic acids at Montelibretti seemed to be released by biogenic sources, whereas PAH presence was related to downwind transport of air par cels from Rome metropolitan area, (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.