Estimated Reduction in Cancer Risk due to PAH Exposures If Source Control Measures during the 2008 Beijing Olympics Were Sustained

Abstract

BackgroundThe 2008 Beijing Olympic Games provided a unique case study to investigate the effect of source control measures on the reduction in air pollution, and associated inhalation cancer risk, in a Chinese megacity.ObjectivesWe measured 17 carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and estimated the lifetime excess inhalation cancer risk during different periods of the Beijing Olympic Games, to assess the effectiveness of source control measures in reducing PAH-induced inhalation cancer risks.MethodsPAH concentrations were measured in samples of particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) collected during the Beijing Olympic Games, and the associated inhalation cancer risks were estimated using a point-estimate approach based on relative potency factors.ResultsWe estimated the number of lifetime excess cancer cases due to exposure to the 17 carcinogenic PAHs [12 priority pollutant PAHs and five high-molecular-weight (302 Da) PAHs (MW 302 PAHs)] to range from 6.5 to 518 per million people for the source control period concentrations and from 12.2 to 964 per million people for the nonsource control period concentrations. This would correspond to a 46% reduction in estimated inhalation cancer risk due to source control measures, if these measures were sustained over time. Benzo[b]fluoranthene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene were the most carcinogenic PAH species evaluated. Total excess inhalation cancer risk would be underestimated by 23% if we did not include the five MW 302 PAHs in the risk calculation.ConclusionsSource control measures, such as those imposed during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, can significantly reduce the inhalation cancer risk associated with PAH exposure in Chinese megacities similar to Beijing. MW 302 PAHs are a significant contributor to the estimated overall inhalation cancer risk.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Associated with PM2.5 in Guadalajara, Mexico: Environmental Levels, Health Risks and Possible Sources

“…The values found in Guadalajara were approximately one order of magnitude lower than those recently reported (4.05 ng·m −3 ) in Cuernavaca, Mexico [23]. Similar levels were found in Florence, Italy (0.34-0.79 ng·m −3 ) [36], Hamilton, Canada (0.84 ng·m −3 ) [37] and Nanjing, China (0.42-1.35 ng·m −3 ) [31], while higher levels were obtained in Xi'an (2-64 ng·m −3 ) and Guangzhou (0.96-22.46 ng·m −3 ), China [38,39]. Among those 14 HAPs, five carcinogenic compounds (C-HAPs), including BaA, BbF, BkF, BaP, and IcdP, accounted for more than 50%.…”

A rapid assessment of the impact of hazard reduction burning around Sydney, May 2016

“…However, findings were of uncertain clinical significance. Another study by Jia et al (2011) estimated a reduction of 46% in excess PAH-induced inhalation cancer risk due to improved air quality during the source-control period of the Olympics, based on-site pollutant measurements and unit risk estimates of WHO and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Korea, 2002Lee et al (2007a conducted an intervention study of traffic restrictions during the 2002 Summer Asian Games in Busan, Korea.…”

Inhalation and dermal exposure to atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and associated carcinogenic risks in a relatively small city

“…The 95th percentile risk value estimated by using a high average winter/summer ratio of PAH concentrations (W¼10) was 1.36 Â 10 À 4 . Jia et al (2011) conducted a study in Beijing, China. Samples of PAHs were collected in nonsource control and source control periods.…”