Identification of concentrations and sources of PM2.5-bound PAHs in North China during haze episodes in 2013

Abstract

An analysis of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM 2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 microns) samples collected at Yucheng, Shandong, in June 2013 was conducted to determine the concentrations, composition, sources, and associated cancer risk. The results revealed that the average PAH concentration was higher during haze episodes (28.28±8.35 ng m −3 ) when compared to non-haze episodes (23.68±4.17 ng m −3 ), and diagnostic ratio and principal component analyses indicate that the predominant sources of PAHs were from fossil fuel and coal combustion, likely from vehicle emissions and industrial sources and biomass burning. Coal combustion and biomass burning contributed significantly more during haze episodes, whereas liquid fossil fuel combustion (e.g. petroleum) was the dominant contributor during the non-haze periods. In addition, back-trajectory calculations revealed that the long-distance transport of air masses from regions with industrial pollution and biomass burning contributed significantly to the concentrations of PAHs in the region. The concentration of high molecular weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs) increased from 62.3 % under non-haze conditions to 67.9 % during the haze periods. The benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent carcinogenic potency value during haze episodes was higher (7.09 ng m −3 ) than that during non-haze (5.64 ng m −3 ) periods and adults over 30 years old in the Shandong province are at an increased risk of cancer from PAHs.

Impact of Dust Storms on NPAHs and OPAHs in PM2.5 in Jinan, China, in Spring 2016: Concentrations, Health Risks, and Sources

“…The ILCR increased from infancy (0-1 years) to adulthood (30-70 years), except for during the toddler stage (1-6 years). These results agree with those of Lu et al (2016), suggesting that the health risk for toddlers was higher than that for adults (18-30 years), although they were only exposed to NPAHs for 6 years. Further, the highest ILCR in all the study periods (Haze, DS1, DS2, DS3, and Clear days) was for adults (30-70 years).…”

“…The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was calculated to evaluate the risk of exposure to PM 2.5 with NPAHs and OPAHs based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Risk Assessment Guidance (Lu et al, 2016). The equation used to calculate ILCR in regard to inhalation was as follows:…”

“…where C is the total BaP equivalent carcinogenic potency (BaPeq) concentration (ng m ), ED is the exposure duration (years), EF is the exposure frequency (day year -1 ) and a value of 350 was used to calculate the inhalation of PAHs in 1 year (Lu et al, 2016), BW is the body weight (kg), ALT is the life span for cancerogenic substances (years), and CSF inhalation is the carcinogenic slope factor (per mg kg -1 day -1…”

PM2.5-Bound PAHs in Indoor and Outdoor of Hotels in Urban and Suburban of Jinan, China: Concentrations, Sources, and Health Risk Impacts

“…In addition, the PAHs concentrations in this study were higher than those in many areas of developed countries (Gigliotti et al, 2005;Motelay-Massei et al, 2005;Albinet et al, 2007;Romagnoli et al, 2014). Kim et al, 2013;Cheruyiot et al, 2015;Lu et al, 2015). A higher concentration of LMW PAHs indicates emissions from noncombustible petroleum products; however, HMW PAHs are significantly correlated with pyrolysis products generated from the combustion of fossil fuel (Hassanien and Abdel-Latif, 2008).…”

Measuring Micrometers of Matter and Inventing Indices: Entangling Social Perception within Discrete and Continuous Measurements of Air Quality

“…Thus, in China, some researchers have focused on how certain policies to limit the production of particulate matter, such as during the 2008 Olympics, have actually served to reduce hospital visits or even lower instances of cancer rates in the short-term (Jia et al 2011). Moreover, after the so-called Airpocalypse in 2013, researchers were able to show that there was an increased risk for adults in China to be diagnosed with cancer when exposed to PAHs (Lu et al 2015).…”