Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Mapping Using Geographic Information System (Case Study of Tehran

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds made up of two or more fused benzene rings in linear, angular or cluster arrangements. The PAHs are formed by incomplete combustion or high temperature pyrolytic process involving organic matter. Thirty sampling sites were selected to characterize the PAHs concentrations in ambient air in Tehran. Sixteen PAHs were measured simultaneously in particles phase of urban area in Tehran’s atmosphere. In order to understand the distribution of PAHs at Tehran area, 1-year sampling program was undertaken. A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing geographic phenomenon that exist and events that occur on Earth. Several efforts have been made for mapping PAHs related pollution and determining pollution patterns in urban areas using GIS. This study revealed that most concentration of cancerous PAHs compounds was found in district 16 (950.47 ng/m3) and lowest concentration in district 2 (19.59 ng/m3).