Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Portuguese educational settings: a comparison between preschools and elementary schools

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to determine levels and risks due to inhalation exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in different educational settings, namely for 3- to 5- year-old and 6- to 10-year-old children. Eighteen PAH (16 priority designated by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and benzo[j]fluoranthene) were simultaneously collected in indoor and outdoor air at two Portuguese preschools (PS1–PS2) and five elementary schools (ES1–ES5) from March to May 2014. Indoor concentrations at PS and ES were significantly different, with total levels (∑PAHs) 0.721–15.9 ng/m3 at PS1–PS2 and 5.03–23.6 ng/m3 at ES1–ES5. The corresponding outdoor concentrations were, respectively, 1.22–32.7 ng/m3 and 2.6–31.5 ng/m3. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with 2–3 aromatic rings were predominantly emitted by indoor sources, while compounds with 4–6 aromatic rings were mainly generated by infiltration of ambient PAH pollution to indoors. Excess lifetime risks of lung cancer exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) designated guideline of 10–5 in both types of schools (15–42-fold at PS; 15–52-fold at ES). However, total (sum of indoor and outdoor exposure) incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) were below the USEPA level of 10–6 at all studied institutions and thus considered negligible. Finally, ILCR due to indoor exposure represented 60–75% and 70–85% of the total ILCR at PS and ES, respectively, thus indicating the need for development and implementation of indoor air quality guidelines in educations settings.