Abstract:
This study measured and analyzed the amount of particulate matter less than 2.50 ?m in diameter (PM 2.5) and the amount of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere in and around the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, Thailand. From November 2003 until February 2004, a period of four months, various gas phase PAHs were collected and measured using an instrument with the following efficiencies: Phenanthrene 91.69%, Pyrene 99.45%, Benz (a) Anthracene 77.81%, Chrysene 57.55%, and Benzo (k) Fluoranthrene 65.16%. Measurements and analysis of PM 2.5 revealed that average amounts over a given 24 hour period exceeded United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standards. Further the amount of PM 2.5 in the atmosphere was on average higher during the time period from Sunday to Tuesday and lowest on Fridays. The highest measurement recorded during the four-month period was 354 ?g/m3 while the lowest was 91 ?g/m3. US EPA standards for ambient PM 2.5 in the atmosphere is 65 ?g/m3. The highest amount of PAHs discovered on any one day was 28.85 ?g/m3 (December 15, 2003). It was also found that the ambient amount of PAHs in the atmosphere had high levels on each day measured from November and January. The atmospheric mixing height contributed to the level of PM2.5 measured and the Coefficient of Gas Particle Partitioning (Kp) during December 2003 was similar to the theoretical value. It show that the slope (mr) from relation between log(Kp) with log(pol) is 0.4837.