Level and pattern of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Asian dust samples at Gosan, Korea

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in both gaseous and particulate phases were measured at Gosan, Korea, a remote background site, for 15 days from March 29 to April 12, 2002. During the sampling period, a severe Asian dust (AD) event (April 8–10) originating from Mongolia and northern China was observed throughout the Korean peninsula and Jeju Island where the sampling site is located. The levels of particulate PAHs doubled from 1.3 to 2.7 ng/m3 during the AD event and apparent changes in gas/particle partitioning were also observed. These results imply that Asian dust can be an important carrier of PAHs from industrial areas of China to remote sites in Northeast Asia