2019 Volume 54 Issue 6 Pages 202-213
Organic compounds that are included in the PM2.5 collected in the mountain and urban areas of Kanagawa Prefecture were analyzed by GC-MS for identification and quantification. As a result, some compounds were confirmed that is have not been previously reported in PM2.5. Both the mountain and urban samples contained pinonaldehyde that is the main oxidative product of α-pinene emitted from softwood. A number of artificial organic compounds, such as butyl carbitol, were detected in the urban samples. ε-Caprolactam that is a raw material of nylon 6 only found in the mountain samples. Perhaps ε-caprolactam found in the mountain samples would be transferred from emission sources. The organic compounds composition in PM2.5 is different in each areas. Therefore, identification of organic compounds that are included in the PM2.5 may lead to determining the source for PM2.5. Incidentally, organic compounds in PM2.5 tended to decrease in concentration in the spring and summer and increase in concentration in the autumn and winter. Additionally, some compounds contained in the PM2.5 identified this time were developed as alternative substances. Furthermore, these compounds are currently being considered for setting the indoor concentration guideline values in Japan. It was suggested that the composition and concentration of the organic compounds contained in the PM2.5 may change with time, indicating the need for continuous monitoring in the future.
