ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Benzo(a)pyrene Emissions in Cities of the Upper
Silesia Industrial Area in Southern Poland:
1980-2005
Aleksandra Moździerz1, Małgorzata Juszko-Piekut1, Jerzy Stojko1, Zofia Kołosza2,
Justyna Kaźmierczak1, Małgorzata Król3
1Department of Hygiene, Bioanalysis and Environmental Studies, School of Pharmacy,
Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Kasztanowa 3A, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
2Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology,
Gliwice Branch, Wybrzeze Armii Krajowej 15, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland
3Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering,
Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland
Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Kasztanowa 3A, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
2Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology,
Gliwice Branch, Wybrzeze Armii Krajowej 15, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland
3Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering,
Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2011;20(5):1251–1258
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The aim of our study was to evaluate the levels of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in the atmosphere in administrative
units of the Upper Silesia Industrial Area, and to analyze their changes in the period 1980-2005.
We calculated the average annual concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene for the administrative units of
Katowice, Bytom, Dąbrowa Górnicza, and Ruda Śląska. Join point regression analysis was used to evaluate
time trends of BaP pollution levels.
The obtained values of BaP concentrations indicate that the allowable average annual concentration of
the compound was significantly exceeded. The highest concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene were recorded in
Bytom and Ruda Śląska. Favorable decreasing trends have occurred in all administrative units. The trend persisted
until the end of the studied period (excluding Dąbrowa Górnicza). Nevertheless, in 2005 the annual
average concentration of BaP still exceeded the Polish norm of 1 ng/m3.
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