Health Risk Assessment of PM2.5-bound Components in Beijing, China during 2013–2015

Abstract

Risk assessment methods of the US Environment Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) were employed to estimate lifetime cancer risk in Beijing using the following fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) components: six elements and 16 U.S. EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and lifetime non-cancer hazard quotients (HQ) using 11 elements, based on data collected in Beijing during 2013-2015. The three-year average PM 2.5 mass concentration was 82 µg m-3. Both lifetime cancer risk (1.9E-4) from exposure to ambient PM 2.5-bound elements and PAHs and non-cancer HQ (18) from exposure to ambient PM 2.5-bound elements in Beijing were much higher than the corresponding U.S. EPA acceptable levels. Cancer risks by source were, in descending order, road dust (7.3E-5), fossil fuel combustion (4.4E-5), vehicle exhaust (3.8E-5), soil dust (8.4E-6), metal processing (8.2E-6), secondary sulphur (8.0E-6), and biomass burning (6.4E-6). Cancer risks by PM 2.5 component were, in descending order, As (1.1E-4), Cr(VI) (3.4E-5), total PAHs (1.5E-5), Pb (1.1E-5), Co (8.4E-6), Ni (3.9E-6), and Cd (3.9E-6). HQ by PM 2.5-bound elements were, in descending order, Cl (14), As (1.8), Pb (0.94), P (0.81), Cd (0.22), Mn (0.22), Ni (0.18), Ba (0.1), Cr(VI) (0.03), Co (0.01), and Se (0.002). Fossil fuel combustion and vehicle exhaust were the top two sources, accounting for 77% of total HQ. HQ by target organ were, in descending order, respiratory (15), reproductive (1.8), nervous (1.2), renal (0.22), fetus (0.1), and alimentary system (0.002). The seasonal variations in PM 2.5 mass concentrations, risks, as well as source and element contributions were largely due to increased coal combustion in winter.

Health Risk Assessment on Exposure to PM2.5-bound PAHs from an Urban-industrial Area in Rayong City, Thailand

“…The t-PAHs concentrations at RS site in descending order were BaP (24%)>BbF=IcdP=DahA (11%)>BkF=BghiP (9%)>Chr=BaA (7%), while the concentrations of 16-PAHs at IE site in descending order were DahA (15%)>BaP (14%)>IcdP (13%)>BbF(12%) > BkF (11%)>Chr=BaA (7%). The result was same as Zhang et al [5], the profile of PM 2.5 -PAHs in Northwest China emitted from coal combustion was found to be Pyr, BaA, Chr, and BbF, while the oil spill and leakage and volatilization during transportation and production processes in the petrochemical industry were Nap, Flu, Phe, and Ant. Furthermore, Fla, Chr, BkF, BaP, Pyr, and BghiP have been found in diesel engines and gasoline exhaust.…”

“…Moreover, Kermani et al [10] revealed that the main of PAHs in the traffic and industrial areas in Tehran, Iran, was BaP, DahA, BbK, and BbF in high-traffic regain, while the BbK, BkF, Chr, Pyr, and IcdP were found the industrial region. Zhang et al [5] reported that the dominant PAHs in an industrial city in Northwest China were found to be Fla, Pyr, BaA, Chr, BbF, BaP, IcdP, and BghiP, which indicated characteristic of combustion emission. In South Africa, Morakinyo et al [17] reported that the dominant PAHs in an industrial area in winter were Phe, Ace, Fla, and Acy, while the PAHs values in summer were Phe, Acy, Flu, and Fla.…”

“…Therefore, it is important to clarify the contribution of PAHs to the toxicity of PM. Especially, fine particles (PM 2.5 ) are generated from fossil fuel and biomass burning combustion, which size has been influenced by their organic and inorganic composition and toxic potential [3], [4], [5]. Zhang et al [5] revealed that the cancer risk from exposure to PM 2.5 -bound PAHs in Beijing, China, has been labeled as posing a significant health hazard.…”

“…Especially, benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF) and benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) were highly correlated with damage of epithelial cells, which BbF and BkF released from diesel exhaust particles and atmospheric PM 2.5 [9]. The dominant of individual PAHs-bound PM 2.5 emitted from traffic was benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DahA), BbK, and BbF, while BbK, BkF, chrysene (Chr), pyrene (Pyr), and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (IcdP) were found the industrial region [5], [10]. An epidemiological study reported that the link between traffic-related PM 2.5coated PAHs and odd preterm birth increased by 30% every interquartile rise, which was positively associated and grouped together with the analysis [11].…”

Effect of Walking Modes and Temperatures on the Robustness of Ventilation Systems in the Control of Walking-induced Disturbances

“…Creating a good indoor environment is particularly important for human health (Zhang et al, 2020). At present, ventilation systems have been widely used to control indoor particle exposure (Zhou et al, 2021a;Ratajczak et al, 2022).…”