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Chlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air: seasonal variation, profiles, potential sources, and size distribution

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Abstract

Chlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ClPAHs and BrPAHs, respectively) are a new derivative group of PAHs. These halogenated PAHs (Halo-PAHs) have been reported to be carcinogenic and are considered emerging persistent organic pollutants. Gaining a clear understanding of the distribution and behavior of these ubiquitous organic pollutants is essential for the control and mitigation of their emission into the environment. However, research into the characteristics of Halo-PAHs in the atmosphere has been somewhat limited. This review paper thus aims to provide an overview of the seasonal patterns, profiles, potential sources, and particle-size distributions of atmospheric ClPAHs and BrPAHs with 3–5 rings. Most previous studies have focused on particulate Halo-PAHs and reported that their levels are higher during the cold season than during the warm season, with this seasonal variation more apparent for ClPAHs than for BrPAHs. In terms of their phase distribution, ClPAHs and BrPAHs share a similar trend, with their gaseous concentrations highest in summer and lowest in winter and their particulate concentrations exhibiting the opposite trend. Halo-PAH profiles have been shown to differ between sampling locations, possibly reflecting differences in the potential sources present at these sites, e.g., coal burning, traffic emissions, and industrial activity. The majority of Halo-PAHs tend to accumulate as ultrafine particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 1.0 µm. Overall, a detailed understanding of the characteristics of Halo-PAHs in the atmosphere has yet to be achieved; hence, further research on atmospheric Halo-PAHs is necessary.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2020R1A2B5B01002669), the 2020 Research Fund (1.200044) of the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), and the Korea Rural Development Administration (PJ01429701).

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  1. School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea

    Quang Tran Vuong, Phan Quang Thang & Sung-Deuk Choi

  2. Institute of Environmental Technology (IET), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Phan Quang Thang

  3. Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, 468-8502, Japan

    Takeshi Ohura

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  1. Quang Tran Vuong
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Quang Tran Vuong: Writing—original draft. Phan Quang Thang: Data curation. Takeshi Ohura: Supervision, Resources. Sung-Deuk Choi: Supervision, Project administration.

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Vuong, Q.T., Thang, P.Q., Ohura, T. et al. Chlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air: seasonal variation, profiles, potential sources, and size distribution. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 19, 259–273 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-020-09535-z

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