Chemical characteristics of organic aerosol in Bab-Ezzouar (Algiers). Contribution of bituminous product manufacture

The organic compositions of atmospheric particulate matter from Bab-Ezzouar (Algiers) have been investigated to assess the air pollution levels suspec ted to be caused by asphalt product and yeast manufactures. After a medium- volume air sampling, soxhlet extraction, alumina elution and HPLC separatio n, the extracts were analysed by high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The compositio n of n-alkane and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) fractions reflecte d the petrogenic origin from the emission of asphalt materials production i n addition to vascular plant wax emissions. In contrast, microbial activiti es seemed to play the main role for the presence of n-alkanoic acids at Bab -Ezzouar. The sole nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAH) observe d, i.e., 2-nitrofluoranthene (2NFA), was very likely to arise from gas-phas e photochemical reaction of parent PAH in the atmosphere. The total aerial levels ranged from 75 to 206 ng m(-3) for n-alkanes, from 153 to 345 ng m(- 3) for n-alkanoic acids and from 44 to 100 ng m(-3) for PAH and NPAH. Altho ugh the samples were collected during the hot season, the levels of these p ollutants seemed to be important and of environmental concern, especially f or PAH species. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.