Introduction
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), usually acknowledged
as a group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs),
have been comprehensively investigated in the past decades
because these congeners have a profound association with
a wide range of adverse health effects and other respiratory
diseases [1–3]. PAHs are widely detected in various types of
environmental compartments including marine organisms
[4–9]. It is well known that PAHs can be generated fromboth
anthropogenic and natural sources [10–13]. According to
recent studies, particulate PAHs are harmful to human health
due to their responsibilities for cancer, endocrine disruption,
and reproductive and developmental effects [14–17].As a consequence
of distress over its potential hazard to public health,
numerous studies were conducted to investigate the impact
of meteorological parameters on its temporal variation and
spatial distribution [18, 19]. Further attempts on clarification
of factors governing diurnal variation of PAHs have also been
carried out in different countries [20–23].