The emissions characteristics of 16 kinds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air during the waste tire retreading process (open-air storage, mixing, vulcanization, and grinding processes) and in workers' dormitory were analyzed. In addition, the occupational health risk of the workers was evaluated. Results showed that PAHs were detected in all retreading processes and in the workers' dormitory. The highest concentration site was the mixing process, followed by open-air storage and vulcanization process. The lowest concentration point was in the grinding process. The average concentration of PAHs in the workers' dormitory was 11.1 ng·m-3. The PAHs at all sampling points were largely phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Flu), anthracene (Ant), and pyrene (Pry), which also had a stronger linear correlation with the total PAH concentration. An analysis of the benzene rings showed that three ring and four ring were the majority, while two ring, five ring, and six ring components accounted for less than 10%. Results of the possible influencing factors of the PAHs revealed that the open-air storage and dormitory might be affected by a combustion source, but the mixing, vulcanization, and grinding processes might be affected by rubber oil. The principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis showed that the spatial location of all sites would significantly influence the distribution of PAHs during the tire retreading process. The health risk assessment showed that occupational workers had a lower risk of lifelong cancer, and there was little influence on life expectancy.
Keywords: ambient air; health risk; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); retreading process; waste tire.