The seasonal changes in the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in precipitation and aerosol near Lake Balaton, Hungary

The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric precipitation and aerosol samples was monitored in a rural site by Lake Ba laton, Hungary to examine the seasonal variation. The seasonal mean concent ration of individual 3-6-ring PAHs in precipitation varied from 1 to 54 ng l(-1) and from 3 to 350 ng l(-1) in summer and winter, respectively. In the atmospheric aerosol samples the seasonal mean concentration of PAHs varied from 4 to 880 pg m(-3), from 4 to 300 pg m(-3), from ii to 1050 pg m(-3) a nd from 36 to 5000 pg m(-3) in spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectiv ely. Wet (412 mug m(-2) year(-1)) and aerosol (190-300 mug m(2) year(-1)) d eposition rates were also estimated indicating that the two processes are o f comparable importance in the removal of 3-6-ring PAHs from the atmosphere . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.