Seasonality, atmospheric transport and inhalation risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM2.5 and PM10 from industrial belts of Odisha, India

Abstract

This study is the first attempt to assess the presence of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) enlisted by the US Environmental Protection Agency in PM2.5 and PM10 from industrial areas of Odisha State, India. During 2017-2018, bimonthly sampling of PM10 and PM2.5 was carried out for 24h in the industrial and mining areas of Jharsuguda and Angul in Odisha during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post monsoon seasons. Highest mean concentration of ∑16PAHs in PM2.5 was observed during the post monsoon (170ng/m3) period followed by pre-monsoon (48ng/m3) and monsoon (16ng/m 3) periods, respectively. A similar trend of ∑16PAHs was also observed in PM10 with higher levels observed during post monsoon (286ng/m3) followed by pre-monsoon (81ng/m3) and monsoon (27ng/m3) seasons. Diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis suggested diesel, gasoline and coal combustion as the major contributors of atmospheric PAH pollution in Odisha. Back trajectory analysis revealed that PAH concentration was affected majorly by air masses originating from the northwest direction traversing through central India. Toxic equivalents ranged between 0.24 and 94.13ng TEQ/m3. In our study, the incremental lifetime cancer risk ranged between 10-5 and 10-3, representing potential cancer risk.