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ORGANIC CHARACTERIZATION OF AEROSOLS AND VAPOR PHASE COMPOUNDS IN URBAN ATMOSPHERES
Citation:
Mendenhall, G., P. Jones, P. Strup, AND W. Margard. ORGANIC CHARACTERIZATION OF AEROSOLS AND VAPOR PHASE COMPOUNDS IN URBAN ATMOSPHERES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-78/031.
Description:
Organic pollutants in urban atmospheres were characterized by analyzing particulate and/or vapor-phase samples collected by EPA in St. Louis, Missouri; Miami, Florida; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; and at the General Motors Test Track in Milford, Michigan. The particulate samples were extracted with solvents and the extractable materials analyzed by elemental combustion analysis and infrared spectroscopic analysis. To evaluate more than one solvent extraction technique, the particulate samples were aliquoted and analyzed by several extraction procedures. Some of the problems encountered with these procedures are discussed. Vapor-phase samples were collected on Chromosorb 102 chromatographic traps and analyzed using qualitative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Individual species tentatively identified are shown on reconstructed gas chromatograms and individual mass spectra for all chromatographic peaks are included in the appendix. Ames Tests for mutagenicity on model aerosol products were also conducted. Products tested were from toluene/NOx, 1-heptene/NOx, and alpha-pinene/NOx systems. None of the aerosol products from these systems showed mutagenic properties.