Journal of Shanghai University(Natural Science Edition) ›› 2014, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (4): 521-530.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1007-2861.2014.01.004

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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) from a Suburban Area in Shanghai: Levels, Sources and
Risk Assessment

WU Ming-hong, CHEN Liu-lu, CHEN Zu-yi, FENG Jia-liang, MA Jing   

  1. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
  • Received:2013-10-09 Online:2014-08-25 Published:2014-08-25

Abstract: A study of airborne particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was conducted in a suburban area of Shanghai during six months to assess the levels and sources of PAHs in air, and its potential health risk to local residents. The total concentration of PAHs in PM10 and PM2.5 ranged from 5.25~136 and 3.56~149 ng/m3  with a mean of 36.9 and 28.5 ng/m3. As the result of isomeric ratios, it is suggested that the combustion and traffic are the main source of airborne PAHs. The median value of BaP ranges from 0.6 to 16 ng/m3. The toxic equivalent quantities (TEQs) are 5.4 ng/m3 of PM10 and 4.1 ng/m3 of PM2.5. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model taking into account inhalation and dermal contact routes is used to quantitatively estimate the exposure risks for three age groups of female and male adults, adolescents, and children. According to the age groups, the values of ILCR in a decreasing order are as following: adults > children > adolescents; and that of females is higher than males. These values of all age groups are higher than the lowest level provided by United States Environmental Protection Agency (ILCR=10−6), indicating unacceptable probability distributions. That implies air quality in China is still facing a serious problem and challenge.

Key words: incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), PM10, PM2.5, risk assessment, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

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