TOXICITY EQUIVALENCE FACTOR AND PARTICULATE-BOUND PAHS IN THE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR IN THE KINDERGARTEN IN BELGRADE (SERBIA)

Abstract

Background: Many organic chemicals including particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PB-PAHs) may causes wide range of adverse health effects including inflammatory responses. There are number of studies about prenatal exposure to PAHs, but there are only a few studies about exposure of young children to PAHs in kindergartens and schools. Aim: PAHs with 2–3 aromatic rings exist dominantly in the gaseous phase, while compounds with 4 or more aromatic rings, that are more toxic, are mostly associated with PM fractions. In addition, it has been reported that PB-PAHs predominantly exists in fine particles, especially in areas with heavy traffic. The aim of this study is to identify Toxicity Equivalence Factor (TEF) of PB-PAHs against Benzo (a) pyrene (BAP) in the indoor and outdoor air in the kindergarten located at street level in the city center in Belgrade. Methods and materials: PM10 and PM2.5 were collected simultaneously in the indoor air of classroom and in outdoor air in front of the windows on a balcony of the kindergarten. Sampling was carried out in the period March-May 2010, during the weekdays only. There are no industrial sources nearby sampling site. 24-h samples were collected with the EU reference sampler using quartz filters. 16 EPA priorityPAHs were analyzed with the GCMS (Agilent 6890N with MSD). Result: Average indoor and outdoor daily mean values of PB-PAHs in PM10 were 6.79 and 8.31 and in PM2.5 4.04 and 6.32 ng/m3 respectively. Indoor and outdoor PB-PAHs expressed by TEF against BAP in PM10 were 1.10 and 1.28 and in PM2.5 0.69 and 0.93 ng/m3 respectively. Conclusions: According to the EU regulative annual limit value for PAHs in PM10 expressed by BAP is 1 ng/m3 (yearly average). During more than 40 days of sampling campaign PAHs identify by TEF against BAP exceeded 1 ng/m3 for PAHs in PM10, while there was lower than 1 ng/m3 for PAHs in PM2.5