REACTIONS OF GAS-PHASE PHENANTHRENE UNDER SIMULATED ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS

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 less-than-or-equal-to 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.