Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in PM 2.5 and PM10 From Industrial Area of Odisha, India: Sources, Atmospheric Transport and Health Risk Assessment

Abstract

In this study we aim to assess 16 priority PAHs enlisted by the US Environmental Protection Agency in PM 2.5 and PM 10 for the first time from industrial areas of Odisha State in India. During 2017–2018, bimonthly sampling of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were carried out for 24 hours by respirable dust sampler and PM 2.5 sampler respectively, in the industrial and mining areas of Jharsuguda (n = 2) and Angul (n = 4) during the pre-monsoon, monsoon and post monsoonal seasons. Highest average concentration of ∑ 16 PAHs in PM 2.5 was observed during post monsoon (170 ng/m3) followed by pre-monsoon (17–89 ng/m3; avg, 48 ng/m3) and monsoonal season (2–40 ng/m3 ; avg, 16 ng/m 3 ), respectively. Similar trend of ∑ 16 PAHs levels in PM 10 was seen with higher levels during post monsoon (116–471 ng/m3; avg, 286 ng/m3) followed by pre-monsoon (avg, 81 ng/m3) and monsoon seasons (27 ng/m3. Diagnostic ratios BaA/(BaA + Chry), Phe/(Phe + Ant) and Flt/(Flt + Pyr) and principal component analysis (PCA) suggest diesel, gasoline and coal combustion are the major contributors for atmospheric PAHs pollution in Odisha. Back trajectories analysis revealed that PAHs concentration was affected majorly by air masses originating from the northwest direction traversing through central India. Toxic equivalents (TEQs) ranged between 0.24 to 94.13 ng TEQ/m3. In our study incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) ranged between 10 − 5 and 10 − 3 representing potential cancer risk.