Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoke and ash from burning mosquito coils
蚊香燃烧产物中多环芳烃的分布规律及相关性研究

GC-MS (gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) was applied to analyze the concentrations of 16 priority-controlled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) recommended by the US EPA from the smoke and ash of burning mosquito coils. The correlation of each individual PAH and the total PAHs in the smoke and ash of mosquito coils is also discussed. The results show that all 16 priority-controlled PAHs are detected in the smoke of mosquito coils, characterized by the predominance of Nap, AcPy, AcP, Phe and FluA. The total PAH emission both in the smoke and ash is dominated by components with 2 to 3 rings, but the total PAH emission in the ash is only 4.7%~21.8% of that in the smoke. By comparison of PAH emission data between mosquito coil burning and other indoor sources, it can be concluded that the total PAH emissions in the ash from mosquito coil burning is lower than that from domestic incense burning and wood combustion but much higher than tobacco burning, and the total PAH emissions in the smoke from mosquito coil burning are lower than emissions from domestic coal combustion, wood combustion and incense burning but much higher than domestic cooking sources. Regression analysis shows a significant linear relationship of the total PAH emissions between the smoke and ash of mosquito coils (R2=0.9054).