Inhalation bioaccessibility of multi-class organic pollutants associated to atmospheric PM2.5: Correlation with PM2.5 properties and health risk assessment

Joel Sánchez-Piñero; Natalia Novo-Quiza; Cristina Pernas-Castaño; Jorge Moreda-Piñeiro; Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo; Purificación López-Mahía

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119577

Inhalation bioaccessibility of multi-class organic pollutants associated to atmospheric PM_2.5: Correlation with PM_2.5 properties and health risk assessment

Environ Pollut. 2022 Aug 15:307:119577. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119577. Epub 2022 Jun 7.

Authors

Joel Sánchez-Piñero¹, Natalia Novo-Quiza², Cristina Pernas-Castaño², Jorge Moreda-Piñeiro², Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo², Purificación López-Mahía²

Affiliations

¹ University of A Coruña, Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), University Institute of Research in Environmental Studies (IUMA), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de A Coruña, S/n, 15071, A Coruña, Spain. Electronic address: joel.sanchez@udc.es.
² University of A Coruña, Grupo Química Analítica Aplicada (QANAP), University Institute of Research in Environmental Studies (IUMA), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de A Coruña, S/n, 15071, A Coruña, Spain.

PMID: 35688393
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119577

Abstract

Inhalation exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) represents a global concern due to the adverse effects in human health. In the last years, scientific community has been adopted the assessment of the PM_2.5-bound pollutant fraction that could be released (bioaccessible fraction) in simulated lung fluids (SLFs) to achieve a better understanding of PM risk assessment and toxicological studies. Thus, bioaccessibility of 49 organic pollutants, including 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 12 phthalate esters (PAEs), 11 organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), 6 synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) and 2 bisphenols in PM_2.5 samples was evaluated. The proposed method consists of a physiologically based extraction test (PBET) by using artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) to obtain bioaccessible fractions, followed by a vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VALLME) and a final analysis by programmed temperature vaporization-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (PTV-GC-MS/MS). The highest inhalation bioaccessibility ratio was found for bisphenol A (BPA) with an average of 83%, followed by OPFRs, PAEs and PAHs (with average bioaccessibilities of 68%, 41% and 34%, respectively). Correlations between PM_2.5 composition (major ions, trace metals, equivalent black carbon (eBC) and UV-absorbing particulate matter (UVPM)) and bioaccessibility ratios were also assessed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) suggested that PAHs, PAES and OPFRs bioaccessibility ratios could be positively correlated with PM_2.5 carbonaceous content. Furthermore, both inverse and positive correlations on PAHs, PAEs and OPFRs bioaccessibilites could be accounted for some major ions and metal (oid)s associated to PM_2.5, whereas no correlations comprising considered PM_2.5 major ions and metal (oid)s contents and BPA bioaccessibility was observed. In addition, health risk assessment of target PM_2.5-associated PAHs via inhalation was assessed in the study area considering both total and bioaccessible concentrations, being averaged human health risks within the safe carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic levels.

Keywords: Emerging and priority organic pollutants; Inhalation bioaccessibility; Particulate matter; Physiologically based extraction; Simulated lung fluid.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Pollutants* / analysis
Flame Retardants* / analysis
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Humans
Particulate Matter / analysis
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Risk Assessment
Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

Air Pollutants
Environmental Pollutants
Flame Retardants
Particulate Matter
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons