Characterization of the sources and health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM2.5 and their relationship with black carbon: A case study in northern Taiwan

Yi-Wen Chen; Yu-Hsiang Cheng; Chin-Yu Hsu

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122427

Characterization of the sources and health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM_2.5 and their relationship with black carbon: A case study in northern Taiwan

Environ Pollut. 2023 Nov 1:336:122427. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122427. Epub 2023 Aug 24.

Authors

Yi-Wen Chen¹, Yu-Hsiang Cheng², Chin-Yu Hsu³

Affiliations

¹ Center for Environmental Sustainability and Human Health, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan, New Taipei, 243089, Taiwan.
² Center for Environmental Sustainability and Human Health, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan, New Taipei, 243089, Taiwan; Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan, New Taipei, 243089, Taiwan; Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi, Chiayi, 613016, Taiwan. Electronic address: yhcheng@mail.mcut.edu.tw.
³ Center for Environmental Sustainability and Human Health, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan, New Taipei, 243089, Taiwan; Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan, New Taipei, 243089, Taiwan.

PMID: 37633441
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122427

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and black carbon (BC) often coexist in PM_2.5 because both form during the incomplete combustion of organic matter. These compounds are regarded as hazardous air pollutants with potential health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular effects. In this study, to evaluate the health risks of PAHs and BC at an urban site in northern Taiwan, 16 priority PAHs and BC, identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, were analyzed and quantified in PM_2.5 to determine their concentrations, their relationship with each other, and their likely sources. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of total PAHs and BC were 0.91 ng m^-3 and 0.97 μg m^-3, respectively, with a significant positive correlation between them, indicating the same emission sources. The results also indicated that fossil fuel combustion and traffic emissions were primary contributors to PAHs, with wood and biomass combustion playing a less prominent role. Among these 16 priority PAHs, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene served as major carcinogenic compounds, accounting for 89.0% of the total carcinogenic toxicity. Thus, the lifetime excess cancer risk resulting from PAH exposure was estimated as 8.03 × 10^-6, indicating a potential carcinogenic risk to human health at the sampling site. Overall, this study highlights the need for future mitigation policies for traffic emissions and fossil fuel combustion for reducing the local emissions of BC and co-produced PAHs in northern Taiwan.

Keywords: Black carbon; Correlation analysis; Health risk assessment; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; Source apportionment.