Reactions of gas-phase phenanthrene under simulated atmospheric conditions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/es00052a027

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of phenanthrene with OH radicals, NO₃ radicals, and O₃ have been determined at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. The rate constants obtained (in cm³ molecule^{- 1} s^-1 units) were (1.27 ± 0.23) x 10^-11 for the OH radical reaction, (1.2 ± 0.4) x 10^-13 for the NO₃ radical reaction under atmospheric conditions, and (4.0 ± 1.0) x 10^-19 for the O₃ reaction. These rate constants indicate that the OH radical and NO₃ radical reactions will be the dominant atmospheric loss processes for phenanthrene and that the overall atmospheric lifetime of gas-phase phenanthrene will be ≤1 day. Mutagenicity bioassays and chemical analyses of the products of the NO₃ radical reaction and NO(x)-air photooxidation of phenanthrene were also conducted.