Atmospheric levels and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to PM2.5 in Guangzhou, China

Jingjing Liu; Ruilin Man; Shexia Ma; Juansheng Li; Qi Wu; Juanying Peng

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.014

Atmospheric levels and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to PM2.5 in Guangzhou, China

Mar Pollut Bull. 2015 Nov 15;100(1):134-143. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.014. Epub 2015 Sep 26.

Authors

Jingjing Liu¹, Ruilin Man², Shexia Ma³, Juansheng Li⁴, Qi Wu⁵, Juanying Peng⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry Engineering, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China; Changsha Environmental Protection College, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Resource Chemistry, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China.
² School of Chemistry Engineering, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Resource Chemistry, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China. Electronic address: rlman@mail.csu.edu.cn.
³ South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEP, Guangzhou City, China. Electronic address: mashexia@scies.org.
⁴ Changsha Environmental Protection College, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China.
⁵ School of Chemistry Engineering, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Resource Chemistry, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China.

PMID: 26392374
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.014

Abstract

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM2.5 contribute significantly to health risk. The objectives of this study were to assess the occurrence and variation in the concentrations and sources of PM2.5-bound PAHs sampled from the atmosphere of a typical southeastern Chinese city (Guangzhou) from June 2012 to May 2013, with the potential risks being investigated. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 was 64.88μgm(-3). The annual average concentration of PAHs in PM2.5 was 33.89ngm(-3). Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) was found to be the predominant PAH in all PM2.5 samples throughout the year, constituting approximately 8.78% of the total PAH content. The significant meteorological parameters for most of the PAHs were sunshine time, air pressure, and humidity, together representing 10.7-52.4% of the variance in atmospheric PAH concentrations. Motor-vehicle exhaust and coal combustion were probably the main sources of PAHs in PM2.5 in Guangzhou. The average inhalation cancer risk (ICR) for a lifetime of 70years was 5.98×10(-4) (ranging from 8.39×10(-5) to 1.95×10(-3)).

Keywords: Health risk assessment; Meteorology effect; PAHs; PM(2.5); Source analysis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
Atmosphere
Benzo(a)pyrene / analysis
China
Cities
Coal / analysis
Humans
Humidity
Particulate Matter / analysis
Particulate Matter / chemistry
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis*
Public Health
Risk Assessment
Seasons
Vehicle Emissions / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Coal
Particulate Matter
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Vehicle Emissions
Benzo(a)pyrene