The contamination of precipitation in Hannover by hydrocarbons

In 1989 and 1990 precipitation (mainly rain) was collected in Hannover (Niedersachsen, Germany) and analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Seasonal variations were seen for the n-alkanes, but, surprisingly, not for the PAHs, although the content of PAHs in cold seasons is higher than in warm seasons. The average concentration of the sum of n-alkanes from n-C18H38 up to n-C33H68 is 43.0 Myg/l, that of the sum of 11 PAHs is 525 Myg/l.