Characterization and health risk assessment of PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in 5 urban cities of Zhejiang Province, China

Sci Rep. 2019 May 13;9(1):7296. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43557-0.

Abstract

In 2015, we measured polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected from 5 cities in Zhejiang Province. The mean toxic equivalent quotient (TEQ) values of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) ranged between 1.2-3.1 ng/m3. The BaP-TEQ displayed seasonal trends, such that winter > spring and autumn > summer. During the winter, the most abundant individual PAHs were 4-6ring PAHs (84.04-91.65%). The median daily intake of atmospheric PAHs ranged between 2.0-7.4 ng/day for all populations, with seasonal trends identical to that of BaP-TEQ. The 95th incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values induced by PM2.5-bound PAHs were far lower than 10-6 for all populations. The data suggested that the pollution levels in the 5 Zhejiang Province cities were higher than the Chinese National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). In the future, relevant measures should be taken to control atmospheric PAHs, especially 4-6 ring PAHs. The data also revealed no obvious cancer risk for populations residing in these 5 cities of Zhejiang Province.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't