Sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the Hudson River Airshed

Sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the Hudson River Estuary Airshed were investigated using positive matrix factorization (PMF). A three-city dataset was used to obtain common factor profiles. The contributions of each factor on each sampling day and site were then determined, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted. A stable eight-factor solution was identified. PMF was able to identify a factor associated with air–surface exchange. This factor contains low-molecular weight PAHs and was a dominant contributor to the measured PAHs concentrations. Factors linked to motor vehicle use (diesel and gasoline vehicle emissions and evaporative/uncombusted petroleum) and natural gas combustion were also major contributors. Motor vehicle combustion and oil combustion factors were the predominant contributors to particle-phase PAHs, while natural gas combustion, air–surface exchange, and evaporative/uncombusted petroleum factors made substantial contributions to gas-phase PAH concentrations. In contrast to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is dominated by regional transport, spatial variations in PAH concentrations suggest that PAH concentrations in the Hudson River Estuary Airshed are dominated by sources within the New York–New Jersey urban–industrial complex.