Variations of inhalation risks during different heavy pollution episodes based on 3-year measurement of toxic components in size-segregated particles

Abstract

Toxic metals (TMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in size-segregated particles during common days (CD) and different heavy pollution (HP) episodes were measured during 2018–2021 in a Chinese megacity. The Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry Model (MPPD) was performed to estimate deposition efficiency, and then inhalation risks in the human pulmonary region during different types of HP were assessed and compared. The higher pulmonary deposition efficiency of PAHs and TMs during all types of HP than those during CD was confirmed. The accumulative incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of different HP were 2.42 × 10−5, 1.52 × 10−5, 1.39 × 10−5, 1.30 × 10−5 and 2.94 × 10−6 for HP4 (combustion sources HP), HP1 (ammonium nitrate HP), HP5 (mixed sources HP), HP3 (resuspended dust HP) and HP2 (ammonium sulfate HP), respectively. The accumulative hazard quotient (HQ) during different HP episodes decreased in the order of HP4 (0.32) > HP3 (0.24) > HP1 (0.22) > HP5 (0.18) > HP2 (0.05). The inhalation risks were dominated by Ni and Cr, what's more, the HQ of Ni and ILCR of Cr during the five HP episodes shared a similar size distribution pattern. However, the characteristic components during different HP episodes and their size distributions of them were distinctive. The size distribution of inhalation risks of the related components (Ni, Cr, BaP, and As) from the combustion process during HP4 peaked at fine mode (0.65–2.1 μm). The size distribution of inhalation risks of the dust-related components (Mn and V) and the components (As and BaP) that are likely to volatilize and re-distribution peaked at coarse mode (2.1–3.3 μm) during HP3. Notably, Mn and Co as catalysts at fine mode could increase the degree of secondary formation and toxicity.