The burden of disease attributable to ambient PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure in Nagpur, India

Abstract

Exposure to PM-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can elicit several types of cancer and non-cancer effects. Previous studies reported substantial burdens of PAH-induced lung cancer, but the burdens of other cancer types and non-cancer effects remain unknown. Thus, we estimate the cancer and non-cancer burden of disease, in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), attributable to ambient PM-bound PAHs exposure in Nagpur district, India, using risk-based approach. We measured thirteen PAHs in airborne PM sampled from nine sites covering urban, peri-urban and rural areas, from February 2013 to June 2014. We converted PAHs concentrations to benzo[a]pyrene equivalence (B[a]P) for cancer and non-cancer effects using relative potency factors, and relative toxicity factors derived from quantitative structure-activity relationships, respectively. We calculated time-weighted exposure to B[a]P, averaged over 30 years, and adjusted for early-life susceptibility to cancer. We estimated the DALYs/year using B[a]P exposure levels, published toxicity data, and severity of the diseases from Global Burden of Disease 2016 database. The annual average concentration of total PM-bound PAHs was 458 ± 246 ng/m and resulted in 49,500 DALYs/year (0.011 DALYs/person/year). The PAH-related DALYs followed this order: developmental (mostly cardiovascular) impairments (55.1%) > cancer (26.5%) or lung cancer (23.1%) > immunological impairments (18.0%) > reproductive abnormalities (0.4%).

Carcinogenic Potency of Airborne Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Relation to the Particle Fraction Size

“…Larsen and Larsen [ 29 ], Bostrom et al [ 23 ], and others pointed that studies on PAH mixtures have shown that they may interact metabolically in a number of different ways, resulting in synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects, so nothing definitive can be concluded on the resulting tumorigenic actions of individual PAHs in complex mixtures. Due to the aforementioned reasons some authors used different approaches for risk estimation [ 57 , 58 ] Furthermore, only ten PAHs were measured in this study (due to the limitation of the analytical method), and only based on these ten PAHs we estimated the TCPs. Nitrated and oxygenated PAH compounds were not measured, which may have led to the underestimation of the full carcinogenic potential of PAH exposure.…”

The Impact of Fine Particulate Matters (PM10, PM2.5) from Incense Smokes on the Various Organ Systems: A Review of an Invisible Killer

“…The deposited heavy metals may cause renal, respiratory, and neurological disorders in addition to carcinogenicity [101] whereas the deposited PAHs present in PM 2.5 may affect immune function and may cause carcinogenicity, and lung disorders. [102][103][104] In addition to PMs, other components alone or in combination with the particulate matter may cause several health-related issues which are shown in Figure 2.…”

Mismanagement of Plastic Waste through Open Burning with Emphasis on the Global South: A Systematic Review of Risks to Occupational and Public Health

“…Combined with PM solids, PAHs may have a different or potentially greater deleterious effect on health compared to PM alone . Particulates such as PM 2.5 PAH are carcinogenic and mutagenic, can cause immunological and developmental impairments, and may lead to reproductive abnormalities . Shivani et al estimated that “plastic and waste burning” (combined) contributes 13.5% of all PM 2.5 generated and 5.1% of lung cancer cases (5000 per million population) or 255 cases per million in Indian cities.…”