Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at a Point Source of Emissions. Part A: Identification and Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in Airborne Particulate Matter Near a Horizontal Stud Soderberg Plant

Use of Benzo[a]pyrene Relative Abundance Ratios to Assess Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Ambient Atmosphere in the Vicinity of a Söderberg Aluminum Smelter

“…RARs for each period show good constancy and support the findings of an earlier study 8 whose results indicate that the ratios of the average B[a]P level to the sum of 14 PAHs were relatively constant for sampling stations in the prevailing wind direction. The close proximity, relatively equal distances of each station from the point of emission, and similar atmospheric conditions explain the lack of intersite differences.…”

“…Concomitantly, B[a]P does not appear to be a good indicator for total PAHs, since the PAH profile changes significantly over time. This is in contrast to a previous study 8 conducted at a different Söderberg smelter that did not address the constancy of their data (ratio of the average B[a]P level to the sum of 14 PAHs) over multiple time periods or calculate individual B[a]P RARs.…”

“…7 From another study conducted in the vicinity of a Söderberg aluminum smelter, 8 results indicated that B[a]P was a good environmental indicator of exposure for all PAHs in urban areas. Furthermore, a report published by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy in 1997 9 identified B[a]P as the chosen indicator for the PAH fraction of complex mixtures for hazard identification and dose-response assessment.…”

Benzo[b]fluoranthene, a Potential Alternative to Benzo[a]pyrene as an Indicator of Exposure to Airborne PAHs in the Vicinity of Söderberg Aluminum Smelters

“…Studies on PAHs in ambient air throughout Canada and in the vicinity of an aluminum HSS concluded that B[a]P correlates well with total PAH exposure. 10,11 Furthermore, a recent report on PAHs published by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy selected B[a]P as an indicator for the PAH fraction of complex mixtures. 12 Farant and Gariépy 13 [20][21][22][23][24] Although the Nieslen reactivity scale and several similar studies [19][20][21][22][23][24] …”

“…9 Among the 100 different PAHs identified in aluminum HSS emissions, 19 account for 90-95% of the total amount of PAHs. 10 Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) has been the most studied PAH to date. [3][4][5][6]9 It is strongly associated and correlated with the incidence of bladder and lung cancer, hence, its current use as an indicator of exposure to PAHs.…”