Results of a passive air monitoring study for polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada, are reported. Polyurethane foam disk passive air samplers were deployed for consecutive 2-month periods from November 2010 to January 2016 at 15 sites. Samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs (alkPAHs), and dibenzothiophene and its alkylated derivatives (DBTs). Concentrations in air were in the ranges of 0.3–43, 0.15–460, and 0.04–130 ng/m³ for ∑PAHs, ∑alkPAHs, and ∑DBTs, respectively. The increase in the levels of PACs in air at most sites was small but statistically insignificant over this 5-year period, which is consistent with expectations as in situ bitumen extraction techniques have become predominant over open pit mining in the area. Significant increases in PAC levels were observed at a site that is within a few kilometers of open pit mining that expanded over the study period. The 5-year regional trend for PACs in air provides a baseline against which planned future open pit mining projects (e.g., Teck Frontier) can be assessed for impact. Seasonal trends in concentrations in air were observed for more volatile PACs; concentrations in air were higher in winter than in summer. These trends were not observed for less volatile compounds. Two major forest fire episodes from April to July 2011 and during June and July 2015 resulted in greatly elevated levels for PAH and a small subset of alkylated PAHs but not for the majority of alkPAHs and DBTs. Increases in regional PAH concentrations associated with forest fire periods were consistent with estimates based on published emission factors for PAHs for wood combustion. Although forest fires are likely to be an important source of PAH concentrations in air across the AOSR, alkPAHs and DBTs appear to be primarily associated with emissions from oil sands mining operations. Air quality guidelines for alkPAHs and DBTs are still lacking.

中文翻译：

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横跨阿萨巴斯卡油砂地区的空气中多环芳族化合物的时空趋势反映了露天采矿和森林大火的输入

据报道，对加拿大艾伯塔省阿萨巴斯卡油砂地区（AOSR）的多环芳族化合物（PAC）进行了被动空气监测研究的结果。从2010年11月到2016年1月，在15个地点连续两个月部署了聚氨酯泡沫盘式被动空气采样器。分析了样品中的多环芳烃（PAH），烷基化PAH（alkPAH）和二苯并噻吩及其烷基化衍生物（DBT）。空气中的浓度范围为0.3–43、0.15–460和0.04–130 ng / m ³分别用于∑PAH，∑alkPAH和∑DBT。在大多数地区，空气中PAC含量的增加很小，但在这5年内在统计上是微不足道的，这与预期一致，因为原位沥青提取技术已成为该地区露天开采的主要手段。在研究期间扩展的露天采矿几公里内的一个地点，观察到PAC含量显着增加。PAC在空气中的5年区域趋势提供了一个基线，可以根据该基线评估计划中的未来露天采矿项目（例如Teck Frontier）的影响。对于更易挥发的PAC，观察到了空气中浓度的季节性趋势。冬天的空气浓度比夏天的高。对于挥发性较小的化合物，未观察到这些趋势。2011年4月至2011年7月以及2015年6月和7月发生的两次主要森林大火导致PAH和少量烷基化PAH的水平大大升高，但大多数alkPAH和DBT的水平却没有升高。与森林火灾时期相关的区域多环芳烃浓度的增加与基于已公布的木材燃烧多环芳烃排放因子的估计值一致。尽管森林大火可能是整个AOSR中空气中PAH浓度的重要来源，但alkPAH和DBT似乎主要与油砂开采作业的排放有关。仍然缺少针对alkPAH和DBT的空气质量指南。与森林火灾时期相关的区域PAH浓度的增加与基于已发布的用于木材燃烧的PAHs排放因子的估计值一致。尽管森林大火可能是整个AOSR中空气中PAH浓度的重要来源，但alkPAH和DBT似乎主要与油砂开采作业的排放有关。仍然缺少针对alkPAH和DBT的空气质量指南。与森林火灾时期相关的区域PAH浓度的增加与基于已发布的用于木材燃烧的PAHs排放因子的估计值一致。尽管森林大火可能是整个AOSR中空气中PAH浓度的重要来源，但alkPAH和DBT似乎主要与油砂开采作业的排放有关。仍然缺少针对alkPAH和DBT的空气质量指南。