Source apportionment and health risk assessment of organic constituents in fine ambient aerosols (PM2.5): A complete year study over National Capital Region of India

Abstract

Fine ambient aerosols (PM2.5) levels in the atmosphere are continuously worsening over Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) of India. Complete source profiles are required to be assessed for implementation of proper mitigation measures over the NCR. In this study, emission sources of PM2.5 are reported for the NCR of India for samples collected during December 2016 to December 2017 at three sampling sites in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Organic constituents (n-alkanes, isoprenoid hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, levoglucosan and n-alkanoic acids) in PM2.5 were measured to apportion the sources over the study area. Source apportionment of PM2.5 was performed using organic constituents by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Health risk associated with organic pollutants [PAHs and carcinogen BEHP bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate] demonstrated the threat of PM2.5 exposure via inhalation. Transport pathways of air masses were evaluated using 3-day backward trajectories and observed that some air masses originated from local sources along with long-range transport which influenced the PAHs concentration during most of the study period over the NCR. PMF and PCA resulted in the five major emission sources [vehicular emissions (32.2%), biomass burning (30%), cooking emissions (16.8%), plastic burning (13.4%), mixed sources (7.6%) including biogenic and industrial emissions] for PM2.5 over the sampling sites. The present study reveals that transport sector is a major source to be targeted to reduce the vehicular emissions and consequent health risks associated with organic pollutants especially PAHs.