Concentrations of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were measured in a suburban site near major traffic arteries during the period April-August 2006. Total suspended particulate during the sampling period was 65.3 33.9 g m-3. Total PAH concentrations were 63.5 20.1 ng m-3 in the gaseous phase and 1.4 0.3 ng m-3 in the particulate phase. Observed concentrations were comparable with previously measured values reported in the literature for urban and suburban sites with a high anthropic influence. PAH concentration diagnostic ratios indicate that, during the spring and summer seasons, vehicular emission was the main source of atmospheric PAHs. Gas/particle partitioning coefficients KP were well correlated with both the sub-cooled liquid vapor pressures pL0 and the octanol-air partition coefficients KOA. Measured KP values were in a good agreement with KP values predicted by applying a literature model, which takes into account both adsorption onto black carbon and absorption into the organic matter.

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