Description
A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for determining the concentration of trace amounts of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in particulate matter from combustion of forest fuels was validated. Particulate matter was prepared for analysis by a small-scale (1mg), simplified preparation followed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The chromatographic system had a limit of detection of 2.67 ng/mL, a precision of 6.4 percent relative standard deviation, and a working range of 2.67 to 100 ng/mL. The complete method gave a mean recovery of 100.6 percent across its working range with an 8.3 percent relative standard deviation. With National Bureau of Standard's Standard Reference Material 1649 (urban particulate metter), a mean recovery of 93.2 percent of the certified B[a]P content of the particulate matter from forest fire smoke had not significantly changed.