-

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds are some of the most important pollutants and carcinogens in the environment. These compounds are produced from incomplete combustion of fossil fules. Benzo (a) pyrene is known to be the strongest carcinogens.
In this study, 13 PAH compounds are evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in the ambient air of the city of Tehran. The samples were taken in summer at 7 location (shoosh-Azadi-Ferdousi-Pirouzi-Beheshti-Tadjrish-Kaj) both in the morning and in the afternoon for 8 hours. The samples were extracted and analyzed by GC-FID.
The results indicate the high concentration of PAH compounds exist in ambient air. And no Benzo(a) pyrene was detected. The maximum concentration of PAH was identified in Pirouzi (East of Tehran) in the morning and afternoon(4449, 3078 ng/m3) and the minimum concentration was in the shoosh (south of Tehran) in the morning (1070 ng/m3) and in Tadjrish (North of Tehran) in the afternoon (1055 ng/m3).
There is no significant difference between morning and afternoon in locations of Tehran, but there is a significant difference in the morning between locations (South and East) and there is no difference in the afternoon.
This study and results shows a rational relationship between traffic and PAN concentration.