Ambient air levels and health risk assessment of benzo(a)pyrene in atmospheric particulate matter samples from low-polluted areas: application of an optimized microwave extraction and HPLC-FL methodology.

A new methodology involving a simple and fast pretreatment of the samples by microwave-assisted extraction and concentration by N2 stream, followed by HPLC with fluorescence detection, was used for determining the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in atmospheric particulate matter (PM10 fraction). Obtained LOD, 1.0 × 10(-3) ng/m(3), was adequate for the analysis of benzo(a)pyrene in the samples, and BaP recovery from PAH in Fine Dust (PM10-like) certified reference material was nearly quantitative (86%).

Determination of trace and major elemental profiles in street dust samples by fast miniaturized ultrasonic probe extraction and ICP-MS.

A simple, fast and miniaturized ultrasonic probe assisted protocol for acid extraction of trace and major elements from street dust samples, prior to final determination by ICP-MS, has been optimized and validated by standard reference materials and applied during an urban air quality monitoring campaign. 15 mg samples were treated for 3 min with 1 mL concentrated HNO(3)-HCl (1:3, v/v) extracting solution, by a 1mm diameter titanium sonotrode connected to a 200 W and 24 kHz ultrasonic device at 80% amplitude. After centrifugation, the extracts were assayed by ICP-MS with good recoveries for the certified elements.