A high-volume air sampler (PS-1) was used to measure the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere of Kaohsiung coast, PAHs diagnostic ratios,Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed to determine the potential sources of PAHs. The results show that the lowest concentrations of PAHs occurred in May (2.62 ngm-3), while the highest occurred in December (36.4 ngm-3). The nighttime concentrations of PAHs are higher than daytime with average night / day ratio of 1.65. The PAHs was more distributed in gas phase with proportions between 64.1 to 93.7 %. The 2, 3-Ring PAHs were mostly present in the gaseous phase (96.2 and 96.5 % respectively), 4-Ring also present dominantly in the gaseous phase (73.0 %), 5-Ring present mostly in the particle phase (80.2 %), 6, 7-Ring PAHs were mostly present in particulate phase (97.4 and 97.7 % respectively). During the Ghost Festiva and Asian dust storm events, atmospheric concentrations of PAHs and PAHs/TSP ratios were both found increased. It is found that gaseous and particulate PAHs correlate negatively with ambient temperature(r=-0.62, -0.57). Results from analyses of diagnostic ratios, HCA and PCA, the major sources of pollution include gasoline, diesel exhaust and industrial emission.

Coastal atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured at top of a building on campus of the National Sun Yat-sen University of Kaohsiung. Concentrations of 52 PAH compounds were analyzed in both gaseous and particulate phases in air samples collected from May 2008 through April 2009. PAHs diagnostic, Hierarchical Analysis (HCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed to determine the potential sources of PAHs. The Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) was applied to relate atmospheric PAH concentration to air quality variables like SO2 and O3, as well as meteorological conditions like precipitation and temperature. During the sampling period the mean of total PAH concentrations was 14.2 ng/m3. Over all, PAH concentrations in winter were higher than summer, with the lowest concentrations of PAHs occurred in June (2.22 ng/m3), while the highest occurred in January (32.4 ng/m3). The night-time concentrations of PAHs are higher than daytime. The 2, 3-ring PAHs were mostly present in the gaseous phase, 4-ring were dominant in the gaseous phase, while 5, 6, 7-ring PAHs were mostly present in the particulate phase. During the Ghost festival and Asian dust storm events, atmospheric concentrations of PAHs and PAHs/TSP ratios were both found increased. Meteorological conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity, may strongly affect PAH concentrations, the gaseous and particulate PAHs correlate significantly with SO2, NOx, and PM10. Result from analyses of diagnostic rations, HCA and PCA, indicates the major sources of PAHs include gasoline and diesel exhaust. By using GMDH, a reasonable appraisal index was obtained for the pattern forecast potency with the meteorological and air quality variables. The GMDH algorithm obtained during 2008~2009 was tested in predictions and compared with what measured in 2007~2008.