biostudies-literatureChen WHMinistry of Science and Technology, Taiwan3453https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7876100biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)Considered that human activities mostly occur below building heights, the objective of this study was to investigate the temporal variations of fine particular matter (PM_2.5)-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent (BaP_eq) concentrations at four different elevations (6.1, 12.4, 18.4, and 27.1 m) in Kaohsiung City, the largest industrial city of southern Taiwan. Temperature variation was critical for the PM_2.5-associated PAH concentrations, which were dominated by benzo[g,h,i]perylene (0.27 ± 0.04 ng m^-3 and 24.43% of the total concentration) and other high molecular weight (HMW) species. The PM_2.5-associated BaP_eq was dominated by 5-ring PAH (36.09%). The PM_2.5-associated PScientific reportsTemporal and vertical variations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon at low elevations in an industrial city of southern Taiwan.PMC7876100MOST 108-2611-M-110-00Lee CLYou JYQuadir AChen WHHsieh MTfalseTemporal and vertical variations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon at low elevations in an industrial city of southern Taiwan.Considered that human activities mostly occur below building heights, the objective of this study was to investigate the temporal variations of fine particular matter (PM_2.5)-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent (BaP_eq) concentrations at four different elevations (6.1, 12.4, 18.4, and 27.1 m) in Kaohsiung City, the largest industrial city of southern Taiwan. Temperature variation was critical for the PM_2.5-associated PAH concentrations, which were dominated by benzo[g,h,i]perylene (0.27 ± 0.04 ng m^-3 and 24.43% of the total concentration) and other high molecular weight (HMW) species. The PM_2.5-associated BaP_eq was dominated by 5-ring PAH (36.09%). The PM_2.5-associated P2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Feb2025-04-04T21:15:49.251Z2021-02-21T09:28:31ZS-EPMC78761003356878010.1038/s41598-021-83155-7