Spatial distribution of atmospheric PAHs and their genotoxicity in petrochemical industrialized Lanzhou valley, northwest China

Abstract

The present study investigated the spatial and seasonal variations and sources of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lanzhou, a petrochemical industrialized and the capital city of Gansu province, northwest China. The human health risks to these PAHs were assessed using an in vitro genotoxic bioassay technique. Associations among direct genotoxic potency, atmospheric PAH concentrations, and potential carcinogen risks were examined. Due to high PAH emissions from fossil fuel combustion and petrochemical industries, considerable higher PAH levels in the atmosphere were observed in Xigu district, a suburb featured by heavy petrochemical industry, compared with those collected at downtown and rural sampling sites. Ambient PAH levels at all sampling sites during the wintertime were higher than that in the summertime due to the winter domestic heating. BaP equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations in winter (41 ng/m) and summer (28 ng/m) exceeded the China's new national daily BaPeq standard. The average excess inhalation cancer risks (ECR) due to human exposure to PAHs during winter and summer sampling periods were 45-3540 cancer cases and 31-2451 cases per million people, respectively. The average ECR in the industrial area of Lanzhou valley was 1.97 (winter) and 1.88 times (summer) higher than that in other sampling areas. The higher ECR in the industrial area was resulted primarily by industrial activities and insufficient emission control measures. Extracts from passive air samples in genotoxicity SOS/umu test demonstrated that the genotoxic effect of atmospheric PAHs in Lanzhou was seasonal dependent. PAH air samples collected in winter showed more statistically significant genotoxicity, as manifested by a strong correlation between in vitro genotoxicity and atmospheric PAH concentrations. This indicates that the local residents were under higher potential cancer risk through the inhalation of ambient PAH air concentrations in Lanzhou valley during the wintertime.

Exposure to Particulate PAHs on Potential Genotoxicity and Cancer Risk among School Children Living Near the Petrochemical Industry

“…Atmospheric PAHs, primarily derived from anthropogenic activities such as industrial operations, vehicle exhausts, refineries, waste incineration and domestic heating, are emitted by incomplete combustion of organic matters at high temperatures [ 9 ]. Numerous international studies in petrochemical industrial areas and oil refineries have tracked particulate contamination and severe particulate PAH emissions [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Nevertheless, the adverse health effects on children living in nearby industrial areas have not been extensively investigated.…”

Multi-year Analyses Reveal Different Trends, Sources, and Implications for Source-Related Human Health Risks of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Canadian Great Lakes Basin

“…It is clear that the risks associated with inhalation of PAHs are higher in winter compared to summer. , The highest cancer risk was found in several provinces in urban/suburban China. For example, values for the samples collected in the winter in Hefei, China, reached 5.1 × 10 –4 . ,, …”

“…For example, values for the samples collected in the winter in Hefei, China, reached 5.1 × 10 −4 . 68,72,73 For source-related risks, the LLCR profile is very different from the factor contribution of PMF modeling. For example, coal combustion contributed to the highest proportion of total PAH concentration.…”

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria in Three Different Functional Zones of the Cities of Moscow and Murmansk

“…Previous research on the PAH-degrading bacteria in the phylloplane has demonstrated the presence of the following bacteria: Alcaligenes , Bacillus , Serratia [ 23 ], Sphingomonas , Pseudomonas [ 24 ], Microbacterium , Rhizobium , Deinococcus spp. [ 5 , 13 , 25 ], and Mycobacterium [ 14 , 15 ]. The role of these bacteria in the degradation of the PAHs in soils has been extensively studied [ 26 , 27 ].…”