Sampling and Identification of volatile and particulate air contaminants generated by intense road traffic in an urban area

Abstract

A case study of urban air quality assessment was carried along a heavily circulated road, aiming to assess the impact of heavy vehicles traffic on the air quality on adjacent streets. A simple method was used for the collection of volatiles from air, in charcoal filled tubes. The analytes were desorbed in an organic solvent, then separated on a capillary column. The concentration of volatile organic atmospheric contaminants mainly originating from the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines, were then determined by using GC/MS quantitative analysis methods. Particulate matter concentrations in the air along the monitored street, were determined in 9 sampling sites, using a portable detector, and by applying the short time sampling methodology