This paper described a determination of volatile organic compounds (such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and phenol) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 by US EPA method) in atmospheric air in Zabrze in 1997. Samples were collected on sorbents (graphitized carbon for BTEX, Chromosorb 102 for phenol and polypropylene filter for PAH) capable of selectivity trapping a wide range of substances. Samples were than analysed using an extraction by solvents followed by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionised detector or ion trap mass detector. The lower limit of detection was circa O.Ol μg/m3 for most compounds. Using a gas chromatograph with ion trap mass detector it was possible to identify 35 organic compounds in urban air in Zabrze. GC-MS is powerful tool for identification organic compounds, but GC with FID detector is most sensitive for quantitative determination of volatile organic compounds.

The aim of this work was to compare nitrogen dioxide atmspheric pollution in some parts of Cracow and to indicate the area in which ambient air concentration of N02 may be the highest. The measurements of 24- hour N02 concentrarion were made by spectrophotometric method with passive sampling in 20 sites in the period of 2 years. The results were analysed by statistical methods, such as: analysis of variance and correlation. The 24-hour NO, concentration has significant spatial variation in the area of Cracow. The highest values were measured in the street canyons, the lowest in residential areas. The highest values of N02 concentration were observed during heating season. The results of passive method are comparable with the results of authomatic method and because of this both methods may be use together in monitoring networks.

Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) may be formed during combustion of Diesel and gasoline rud and may be produced in gas-phase reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with oxides of nitrogen. These compounds can form a significant fraction olthc mainly direct-acting mutagenie compounds present in extracts of ambient air particles. Using own analytical method of nitro-PAHs determination, concentrations or total PAHs, nitro- and dinitro-PAHs in urban and non-urban area of three cites of Upper Silesia in Poland were measured. The dependence between concentration of PAHs and nitro-pAHs in urban and non-urban area as well as their distribution depending on roadway distance were searched. The study showed a significant influence of road transport on the levels ofnitro-PAHs concentration.