Determination and comparison of nitrated-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons measured in air and diesel particulate reference materials.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued numerous environmental matrix standard reference materials (SRMs) for the measurement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; however, only one SRM (diesel particulate material) was issued with certified and reference values for four nitrated-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH). The objective of this study was to develop an improved analytical procedure to quantify 28 mononitro- and dinitro-PAHs, including numerous isomers, in air and diesel particulate SRMs. Two air particulate matrix SRMs, SRM 1649a Urban Dust and SRM 1648 Urban Particulate Matter, and fine particulate matter, collected from Baltimore MD for use as an "interim reference material" for the determination of organic contaminants, have been characterized for nitro-PAHs.