Background concentrations of benzene, potential long range transport influences and corresponding cancer risk in four cities of central Europe, in relation to air mass origination

Abstract

Benzene concentrations covering the three year period 2015–2017, were derived from four background monitoring stations located in Berlin (Germany), Budapest (Hungary), Mons (Belgium) and Torino (Italy), in order to calculate the corresponding Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) of an average adult, associated with the inhalation of benzene. In addition, a cluster analysis of backward air mass trajectories was coupled with Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) model aiming to identify possible exogenous source regions of benzene affecting the four cities and also to allocate the ILCR in atmospheric circulation patterns. A potential health risk (ILCR>10−6) from benzene exposure was estimated in all four cities. In Berlin and Mons, an enhanced fraction of the ILCR was associated with Southeast short range trajectories of slow moving air masses, which were also related to extreme long range transport episodes. Furthermore, increased benzene concentrations in Budapest were observed during the prevalence of short range Southwest airflows, whilst PSCF model isolated the transboundary emission sources in the industrialized North Italy. Long range trajectories of fast moving marine air masses from North Atlantic, not influenced by anthropogenic emissions, improved the benzene related air quality in Berlin and Mons due to dispersion. No long range transport effects were confirmed in Torino.