EN
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of traffic-origin, adsorbed on PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter in Zabrze, Upper Silesia, Poland, is investigated for summer 2005. Exposure levels for the particulate PAHs near the crossroads is about 66 ng/m³ and 44 ng/m³ for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. The relative concentration increase of these compounds in road intersections compared to the concentration away from traffic emissions is equal to 189% and 237% for PAHs associated with PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. The fingerprint of PAHs contained in PM2.5 is distinctly different near the crossroads compared to the urban background site, while the fingerprints of PAHs contained in PM10 at both sites are almost the same.