Outdoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Research Articles

A Review of the Effect of Outdoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Bladder Cancer

Context: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pollutants that are among the most important risk factors for cancer, especially in individuals with underlying diseases. On the other hand, various types of cancers in the vital organs of the body, including the liver, lung, and bladder, and diseases related to the nervous system can be attributed to exposure to this polluting agent. Bladder cancer depends on numerous factors, such as inherited genetic predisposition and external exposure. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are by-products arising from the incomplete combustion of organic matter. They are found in all environments, such as hospitals, industries, and homes. Objectives: The purpose of this review study was to investigate the epidemiological literature on the side effects of PAHs on bladder cancer and the risk factors related to cancer. Methods: A total of 80 articles according to different databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, Cochrane, and ScienceDirect, were retrieved. Then, 38 full-text articles were entered into the analysis process. Finally, 12 articles were selected for this study. Results: The literature review showed that PAH exposure occurs in daily life through exposure to tobacco smoke, consumption of charcoal-smoked meats, and inhalation of air pollutants. The concentration of PAHs is related to the risk of developing bladder cancer during the lifetime of PAHs. Bladder tumors are directly related to exposure to carcinogens. While the exposure to risk factors increases, the risk of developing cancer increases. Risk factors affecting bladder cancer include smoking and occupational and dietary factors. Conclusions: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are by-products of incomplete combustion of organic matter. They are found in all environments, such as hospitals, industries, and homes, and they can affect the urinary system, cause dysfunction, and eventually cause bladder cancer.

Assessment of health risks of PAHs from rural cooking emissions: Neighborhood diffusion and the impact of village settlement characteristics

Solid fuel cooking in rural areas has led to substantial emissions of air pollutants, notably polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially in developing countries such as China. The potential health risks associated with outdoor exposure of residents to PAHs from fugitive cooking exhaust within rural settlements also merit consideration. Consequently, this study employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques to evaluate the neighborhood diffusion of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a carcinogenic PAH congener, in a cluster shape rural settlement. Subsequently, the health risks associated with outdoor exposure to neighborhood-diffused PAHs were quantified using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for the susceptible population. The simulations encompass four settlement characteristics, including the angle between approaching wind and streets (θ), street width (SW), slit distance (SD), and building arrangement, to analyze their influence on the neighborhood diffusion of PAHs. The results demonstrate that the highest ILCR resulting from outdoor PAHs exposure within the main activity areas of neighboring buildings exceeds the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)'s limit of 1×10−6 across all simulated cases. Additionally, settlement characteristics significantly affect the neighborhood diffusion of cooking-generated B[a]P. Smaller θ and staggered arrangement lead to a reduction in the affected area by B[a]P, but result in higher concentrations and ILCR near the source building. Meanwhile, wider street width proves to be an effective strategy for reducing concentrations and ILCR for both neighboring buildings and entire settlement. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners to develop environmentally sustainable rural communities that minimize health risks associated with cooking activities.

Simultaneous Monitoring of Outdoor PAHs and Particles in a French Peri-Urban Site during COVID Restrictions and the Winter Saharan Dust Event

The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particulate matter (PM) in air is known to provoke deleterious effects on human health. This work focused on the monitoring of PM and PAHs in the air over four weeks in a peri-urban site in Strasbourg (France), using a three-stage cascade impactor and a particle analyser allowing PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 discrimination. Meteorological conditions were monitored to study their influence on the pollutant levels. The average PM10 concentration of the cascade impactor and particle analyser varied from 11.8 to 80.2 µg/m3 and 10.6 to 220.2 µg/m3, respectively. The PAH total concentration ranged in 1.1–7.6 ng/m3 and a predominance of 5- and 6-ring PAHs was observed. PAHs were also more abundant in finer particles (PM1). Specifically, identified PAHs are traffic tracers suggesting that vehicular emission was one of its main sources. Two pollution episodes, associated with either a Saharan dust wind episode or traffic pollution, were observed, and led to PM10 and PM2.5 surpassing the daily limit values established by the European Union despite the traffic limitations according to the COVID restrictions. The total PAH concentrations were the highest during these periods suggesting PAHs might be bound to and transported via dust particles.

Characteristics of indoor and outdoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in TSP in rural Northeast China: A case study of heating and non-heating periods.

Approximately 91% of the world's population lives in an air-polluted environment, and environmental pollution has become a widespread concern. Urban indoor and outdoor air pollution has been fully researched and effective control measures have been proposed. However, the issue of air pollution in rural areas has not been explored in depth. Compared to urban air pollution, the rural air pollution problem is more complex and urgent. Due to climatic factors and economic conditions in rural Northeast China, most households use solid fuels such as biomass straw and coal as domestic energy during the heating period, which will cause serious pollution problems of Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). To investigate the pollution characteristics of PAHs in indoor and outdoor TSP in rural Northeast China during the heating and non-heating periods, a medium-sized particulate matter collector 1108A was used to collect TSP for 7days, and GC-MS was used to detect PAHs. The results showed that indoor TSP and PAHs pollution levels were the highest during the heating period. PAHs source analysis by Diagnostic Ratio (DR) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that the main sources were biomass and coal combustion, vehicle emissions, and domestic waste incineration. According to the results of carcinogenic risk model calculations, there is a potential carcinogenic risk to the population in the Northeast rural living area. This study reflects the pollution characteristics and sources of indoor and outdoor TSP and PAHs in rural Northeast China during heating and non-heating periods, and provides a reference for further prevention and control of air pollution in rural areas, which is conducive to improving the living environment and improving human health.

Wildfire Impact on Indoor and Outdoor PAH Air Quality.

Air quality impacts from wildfires are poorly understood, particularly indoors. As frequencies increase, it is important to optimize methodologies to understand and reduce chemical exposures from wildfires. Public health recommendations use air quality estimates from outdoor stationary air monitors, discounting indoor air conditions, and do not consider chemicals in the vapor phase, known to elicit adverse effects. We investigated vapor-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor and outdoor air before, during, and after wildfires using a community-engaged research approach. Paired passive air samplers were deployed at 15 locations across four states. Twelve unique PAHs were detected only in outdoor air during wildfires, highlighting a PAH exposure mixture for future study. Heavy-molecular-weight (HMW) outdoor PAH concentrations and average Air Quality Index (AQI) values were positively correlated (p < 0.001). Indoor PAH concentrations were higher in 77% of samples across all sampling events. Even during wildfires, 58% of sampled locations still had higher indoor PAH air concentrations. When AQI values exceeded 140 (unhealthy for sensitive groups), outdoor PAH concentrations became similar to or higher than indoors. Cancer and noncancer inhalation risk estimates from vapor-phase PAHs were higher indoors than outdoors, regardless of the wildfire impact. Consideration of indoor air quality and vapor-phase PAHs could inform public health recommendations regarding wildfires.

Environmental and human health risk assessments of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter in Nigeria.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important organic group in particulate matter which has attracted much attention among the scientific community in terms of health risk because of their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and ubiquitous nature in the environment. In this study, PAHs in particulate matter in Okitipupa were determined. Indoor and outdoor particle samples were sampled with the aid of SKC Air Check XR5000 high-volume gravimetric sampler, and analyzed using gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The results obtained showed that high molecular weight PAHs (5-ring, 6-ring PAHs) had higher mean concentration than low molecular weight PAHs (2-ring, 3-ring PAHs), in both indoor and outdoor particulate matter. Health risk assessments from exposure to these PAHs were also determined using toxicity equivalence quotient (TEQ), mutagenicity equivalence quotient (MEQ), incremental life cancer risk (ILCR), and hazard quotient (HQ). Dibenz(a,h)anthracene had the highest mean concentration across the sample location in both indoor and outdoor with values ranging from 33 to 31 and 90 to 93µg/m3 respectively. The total mean concentration in outdoor PAHs ranged from 280 to 329µg/m3, while total mean concentration in indoor PAHs ranged from 74 to 104µg/m3. The incremental lifetime cancer risk in indoor ranged from 6.9 × 10-7 to 1.2 × 10-5, while the ILCR in outdoor ranged from 8.5 × 10-6 to 1.0 × 10-5. The hazard quotient in indoor ranged from 7.6 × 10-5 to 2.2 × 10-3, while the HQ in outdoor ranged from 10 × 10-4 to 1.4 × 10-3. These values are within the WHO permissible limit, and therefore underscores the danger associated with the inhalation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Okitipupa.

Comparison of indoor and outdoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from multiple urban residences in Northern China: Coastal versus inland area

Passive air and dust samples were simultaneously collected from urban residences in three functional areas at a coastal site (Weihai) and an inland site (Heze) in Northern China. Samples were concurrently collected in bedrooms, kitchens, and an adjacent outdoor area for each home during the non-heating and heating seasons. Nineteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The higher concentrations of PAHs occurred in inland than coastal and industrial area than other districts. The PAHs were more concentrated in outdoor air samples in both cities, but the opposite trend was observed in the dust samples. Compared with bedrooms, higher concentrations of gas-phase PAHs occurred in kitchen. PHE (36.4%) and FLU (18.0%) were the dominant PAHs measured in air samples, whereas middle molecular weight PAHs (34.0%) and high molecular weight PAHs (44.3%) were greater in dust bound PAHs. The I/O ratios of 2–3 rings PAHs in the air were greater than 4–7 rings in both cites indicating that indoor sources had a greater impact on low molecular weight PAHs. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified vehicle exhaust and biomass/coal combustion as the main PAH sources in both outdoor air and dust samples while cooking and solvent use contributed more to indoor samples. Dermal contact with dust accounted for 79.1–85.1% of the total incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) in the study area. Children's ingestion risk was 1.34 and 1.37 times that of adults for both indoor and outdoor sampling areas, respectively.

Scoping review of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) human and experimental animal cancer studies

Background: The carcinogenicity of some PAHs has not been evaluated. To gauge feasibility of a potential systematic review of PAH cancer hazard, we conducted a scoping review on PAH cancer studies.Methods: We searched PubMed for human cancer studies and mapped them by exposure source and cancer type. For animal studies, we searched three databases for PAHs in general and 35 specific PAHs, excluding PAH listed in the Report on Carcinogens; studies were mapped by PAH, exposure route, and cancer sites.Results: Human cancer studies assessed exposure to PAH mixtures or surrogates from (1) the workplace using expert assessment or job exposure matrices, (2) the environment by measuring or modeling indoor or outdoor PAH exposure, or (3) all sources by measuring PAH biomarkers. Occupational studies reported lung and urinary bladder cancers most often, but also head and neck, pancreas, and other cancers. Environmental studies reported breast cancer, childhood leukemia, and others. Biomonitoring studies using PAH urinary biomarkers reported lung and breast cancers. Biomonitoring studies using PAH adducts, some including gene-environment interaction, reported lung, breast, and liver cancers.We selected animal studies using physiologically relevant exposures (oral, dermal, inhalation, intratracheal instillation, or IP injection). Laboratory animals were tested with individual PAHs. Most were mouse studies with dermal applications, and many reported skin cancer. The similar study of different PAHs could facilitate PAH comparisons. IP studies in mice reported lung and liver cancer. Anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene, chrysene, cyclopenta[cd]pyrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene had increased cancer at two or more sites. Anthracene, chrysene, and benzo[c]fluorene has increased cancer via two exposure routes. No cancer sites were reported from the three rat studies with relevant exposures.Discussion: Both human and animal cancer literature are sufficient for systematic review of PAH cancer hazard. Integrating human cancer evidence across exposure scenarios will inform future assessments.

PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons inside and outside a primary school classroom in Beijing: Concentration, composition, and inhalation cancer risk

PM2.5 samples were collected inside and outside a primary school classroom in Beijing in 2015 and analysed for 11 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 10 nitro-PAHs (NPAHs). In the sampling period in the heating season (namely, the heating period), the median concentrations of indoor and outdoor PAHs were 223 ng/m3 and 264 ng/m3, respectively, and those of indoor and outdoor NPAHs were 3.61 ng/m3 and 5.12 ng/m3, respectively. The concentrations of PAHs and NPAHs were consistently higher in the heating period than those (indoor PAHs: 8.75 ng/m3, outdoor PAHs: 8.95 ng/m3, indoor NPAHs: 0.25 ng/m3, outdoor NPAHs: 0.40 ng/m3) in the sampling period in the non-heating season (namely, the non-heating period). In both periods, total PAHs and total NPAHs in indoor PM2.5, as well as most individual PAHs and NPAHs, were positively correlated with the outdoor PAH and NPAH concentrations (p < 0.05). This finding suggests that indoor PAHs and NPAHs are largely dependent on outdoor inputs. It is inferred from the diagnostic ratios that PAHs and NPAHs in indoor and outdoor PM2.5 were affected jointly by coal combustion and vehicular emission in the heating period and mainly derived from vehicle exhaust in the non-heating period. Both indoor and outdoor PM2.5 showed considerable benzo[a]pyrene equivalent toxicity (BaPeq), especially in the heating period. Benzo[c]fluorene (BcFE) had relatively low concentrations but large contributions to BaPeq in both periods. This is the first report of PM2.5-bound BcFE inside and outside classrooms in Beijing. This result indicates that neglecting PAHs with low abundance but high toxicity leads to a significant underestimation of the overall PAH toxicity. The inhalation cancer risk (CR) of PAHs and NPAHs in PM2.5 during the primary school year exceeded the acceptable level as defined by the U.S. EPA, emphasizing its impact on the lifetime CR in schoolchildren.

Indoor versus Outdoor Air Quality during Wildfires.

The human behavioral modification recommendations during wildfire events are based on particulate matter and may be confounded by the potential risks of gas-phase pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Moreover, the majority of adults spend over 90 percent of their time indoors where there is an increased concern of indoor air quality during wildfire events. We address these timely concerns by evaluating paired indoor and outdoor PAH concentrations in residential locations and their relationship with satellite model-based categorization of wildfire smoke intensity. Low-density polyethylene passive air samplers were deployed at six urban sites for 1 week in Eugene, Oregon with matched indoor and outdoor samples and 24 h time resolution. Samples were then quantitatively analyzed for 63 PAH concentrations using gas-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A probabilistic principal components analysis was used to reduce all 63 PAHs into an aggregate measure. Linear regression of the first principal component against indoor versus outdoor shows that indoor gas-phase PAH concentrations are consistently equal to or greater than outdoor concentrations. Regression against a satellite-based model for wildfire smoke shows that outdoor, but not indoor gas-phase PAH concentrations are likely associated with wildfire events. These results point toward the need to include gas-phase pollutants such as PAHs in air pollution risk assessment.

Preliminary Assessment of the Distribution of PM2.5-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Primary School Environments in Kuala Lumpur

Fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm) (PM2.5) has become a major concern because it can adsorb chemicals e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) onto its surface. Although PAHs are priority pollutants that can cause adverse health effect, there is still limited information concerning indoor exposures to PAHs in Malaysia. This study aimed to characterise the distribution of PAHs bounded to PM2.5 in primary school environments. Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 were collected between May and July 2017 using low volume samplers (LVS) at three public primary schools in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. PAHs were extracted by ultrasonic extraction with Dichloromethane:n-Hexane (1:1, v/v) as the extraction solvent and analysed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Based on the results, the average total concentration of PAHs (∑PAHs) ranged from 3.8 to 10.1 ng m-3 and 1.6 to 8.0 ng m-3 for outdoors and indoors, respectively. PAHs in PM2.5 samples indicated the potential contribution of combustion at high temperature and indoor sources, and the infiltration of outdoor PAHs were the important sources for outdoor and indoor, respectively. In addition, the diagnostic ratio analysis showed that vehicular emissions were the most predominant sources of PAHs in school environments.

Traffic-Related Air Pollution, APOEε4 Status, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes among School Children Enrolled in the BREATHE Project (Catalonia, Spain).

Background:Traffic-related air pollution is emerging as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and impaired brain development. Individual differences in vulnerability to air pollution may involve the allele of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, the primary genetic risk factor for AD.Objective:We analyzed whether the association between traffic air pollution and neurodevelopmental outcomes is modified by APOE status in children.Methods:Data on parent-reported behavior problems (total difficulties scores, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), teacher-reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom scores, cognitive performance trajectories (computerized tests of inattentiveness and working memory repeated 2–4 times during January 2012–March 2013), and APOE genotypes were obtained for 1,667 children age 7–11 y attending 39 schools in or near Barcelona. Basal ganglia volume (putamen, caudate, and globus pallidum) was measured in 163 of the children by MRI (October 2012–April 2014.) Average annual outdoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), elemental carbon (EC), and nitrogen dioxide () concentrations were estimated based on measurements at each school (two 1-wk campaigns conducted 6 months apart in 2012).Results:APOE allele carriers had significantly higher behavior problem scores than noncarriers, and adverse associations with PAHs and were stronger or limited to carriers for behavior problem scores (P-interaction 0.03 and 0.04), caudate volume (P-interaction 0.04 and 0.03), and inattentiveness trajectories (P-interaction 0.15 and 0.08, respectively). Patterns of associations with the same outcomes were similar for EC.Conclusion:PAHs, EC, and were associated with higher behavior problem scores, smaller reductions in inattentiveness over time, and smaller caudate volume in APOE allele carriers in our study population, and corresponding associations were weak or absent among noncarriers. These findings support a potential role of APOE in biological mechanisms that may contribute to associations between air pollution and neurobehavioral outcomes in children. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2246

Wintertime air pollution and health risk assessment of inhalation exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rural China

Household air pollution is one important environmental risk to human health in China, however, rural air pollution is often underappreciated and field measurements are limited compared to studies in urban area. The present study investigated indoor and outdoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and population inhalation exposure from two rural counties in Shanxi and Guizhou provinces, respectively. The indoor levels were higher than the corresponding outdoor concentration in both sites, which was mainly affected by the indoor fuel combustion emissions. A majority of particulate PAHs was found in submicron PM1.0. Fuel types had significant impacts on the total PAHs mass concentration but also composition profiles. In homes using electricity, the PAHs concentration was lower than those burning solid fuels, and there were relatively more fractions of low molecular weight PAHs with 2–3 rings, while for those burning solid fuels, higher fractions of high molecular weight PAHs with 5–6 rings may pose larger adverse health impacts. Although the daily inhalation exposure level for the population using electricity was much lower than those using solid fuels, the estimated Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk still exceeded the deemed safe risk of 10−6. Inhalation exposure amounts measured by using portable carried samplers were compared to the estimation based on area concentration. The substantial discrepancy between them confirmed a preferable use of portable carried samplers in exposure evaluation and health risk assessment.

Assessment of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a megacity of South China: Spatiotemporal variability, indoor-outdoor interplay and potential human health risk

Although a number of studies have assessed the occurrence of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor environment, few studies have systemically examined the indoor-outdoor interplay of size-dependent particulate PAHs and potential health risk based on daily lifestyles. In the present study, size-dependent particle and gaseous samples were collected both indoors and outdoors within selected schools, offices and residences located in three districts of Guangzhou, China with different urbanization levels during the dry and wet weather seasons. Results from measurements of PAHs showed that higher total PAH concentrations occurred in residential areas than in other settings and in indoor than in outdoor environments. Compositional profiles and size distribution patterns of particle-bound PAHs were similar indoors and outdoors, predominated by 4-and 5-ring PAHs and the 0.56–1.0 μm particle fraction. Statistical analyses indicated that outdoor sources may have contributed to 38–99% and 62–100% of the variations for indoor particle-bound and gaseous PAH concentrations, respectively. Incremental life cancer risk (ILCR) from human exposure to indoor and outdoor PAHs based on different lifestyles followed the order of adults > children > adolescents > seniors. All average ILCR values for four age groups were below the lower limit of the Safe Acceptable Range (10−6). In addition, the ILCR value for adults (average: 7.2 × 10−7; 95% CI: 5.4 × 10−8‒2.5 × 10−6), estimated from outdoor air PAH levels with 24-h exposure time, was significantly higher than our assessment results (average: 5.9 × 10−7; 95% CI: 6.3 × 10−8‒1.9 × 10−6), suggesting the significance of assessing human inhalation exposure risks of indoor and outdoor PAHs in urban air based on daily lifestyles.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor and outdoor air in Turkey: Estimations of sources and exposure

ABSTRACTThe aim of the current study was to measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in eight indoor (In both kitchen and living room) air sampling locations using a passive sampling method for collection. Passive outdoor air samples were also collected from 3 of the same sampling locations as the indoor air sampling sites. Sampling was conducted in three seasons. The summer season, when windows are generally open, was between 18th July and 01st September, 2014; the autumn and winter seasons, when windows are mostly closed, was between 18th October and 01st December, 2014, and 01st December, 2014, and 18th January, 2015, respectively.Average PAH concentrations in summer were 22 ± 21 ng/m3 and 17 ± 12 ng/m3 in the living room and kitchen, respectively, whereas living room and kitchen average PAH concentrations were 23 ± 16 ng/m3 and 20 ± 9 ng/m3, respectively, in autumn and 23 ± 13 ng/m3 and 23 ± 24 ng/m3, respectively, in winter. Outdoor air PAH concentrations in summer, autumn and winter were 7 ± 0.4 ng/m3, 22 ± 13 ng/m3 and 209 ± 33 ng/m3, respectively. An increase in outdoor PAH concentrations was measured in winter compared to the concentrations in summer and autumn, which paralleled the lower outdoor air temperature. However, PAH concentrations in the indoor environment vary according to the household characteristics and personal habits.

Particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sources and determinants in residential homes

Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor environments can be particularly relevant because people spend most of their time inside buildings, especially in homes. This study aimed to investigate the most important particle-bound PAH sources and exposure determinants in PM2.5 samples collected in 19 homes located in northern Italy. Complementary information about ion content in PM10 was also collected in 12 of these homes. Three methods were used for the identification of PAH sources and determinants: diagnostic ratios with principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses (PCA and HCA), chemical mass balance (CMB) and linear mixed models (LMMs). This combined and tiered approach allowed the infiltration of outdoor PAHs into indoor environments to be identified as the most important source in winter, with a relevant role played by biomass burning and traffic exhausts to be identified as a general source of PAHs in both seasons. Tobacco smoke exhibited an important impact on PAH levels in smokers' homes, whereas in the whole sample, cooking food and natural gas sources played a minor or negligible role. Nitrate, sulfate and ammonium were the main inorganic constituents of indoor PM10 owing to the secondary formation of ammonium sulfates and nitrates.

Indoor air quality at life and work environments in Rome, Italy

The air quality of three different microenvironments (school, dwelling, and coffee bar) located in the city of Rome, Italy, was assessed. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with PM2.5 particles were determined during an intensive 3-week sampling campaign conducted in March 2013. In interiors, total particulate PAHs ranged from 1.53 to 4.96 ng/m(3) while outdoor air contained from 2.75 to 3.48 ng/m(3). In addition, gaseous toxicants, i.e., NO2, NOx , SO2, O3, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene isomers), were determined both in internal and external air. To solve the origin of indoor and outdoor PAHs, several source apportionment methods were applied. Multivariate analysis revealed that emissions from motor vehicles, biomass burning for heating purposes, and soil resuspension were the major sources of PAHs in the city. No linear correlation was established between indoor and outdoor values for PM2.5 and BTEX; the respective indoor/outdoor concentration ratios exceed unity except for PM2.5 in the no smoking home and benzene in all school floors. This suggests that important internal sources such as tobacco smoking, cleaning products, and resuspension dust contributed to indoor pollution. Using the monitoring stations of ARPA Lazio regional network as reference, the percentage within PAH group of benzo[a]pyrene, which is the WHO marker for the carcinogenic risk estimates, was ca. 50% higher in all locations investigated.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: levels and phase distributions in preschool microenvironment.

This work aims to characterize levels and phase distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor air of preschool environment and to assess the impact of outdoor PAH emissions to indoor environment. Gaseous and particulate (PM1 and PM(2.5)) PAHs (16 USEPA priority pollutants, plus dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, and benzo[j]fluoranthene) were concurrently sampled indoors and outdoors in one urban preschool located in north of Portugal for 35 days. The total concentration of 18 PAHs (ΣPAHs) in indoor air ranged from 19.5 to 82.0 ng/m(3) ; gaseous compounds (range of 14.1-66.1 ng/m(3)) accounted for 85% ΣPAHs. Particulate PAHs (range 0.7-15.9 ng/m(3)) were predominantly associated with PM1 (76% particulate ΣPAHs) with 5-ring PAHs being the most abundant. Mean indoor/outdoor ratios (I/O) of individual PAHs indicated that outdoor emissions significantly contributed to PAH indoors; emissions from motor vehicles and fuel burning were the major sources.

Long term effects of prenatal and postnatal airborne PAH exposures on ventilatory lung function of non-asthmatic preadolescent children. Prospective birth cohort study in Krakow

The main goal of the study was to test the hypothesis that prenatal and postnatal exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are associated with depressed lung function in non-asthmatic children. The study sample comprises 195 non-asthmatic children of non-smoking mothers, among whom the prenatal PAH exposure was assessed by personal air monitoring in pregnancy. At the age of 3, residential air monitoring was carried out to evaluate the residential PAH exposure indoors and outdoors. At the age of 5 to 8, children were given allergic skin tests for indoor allergens; and between 5 and 9 years lung function testing (FVC, FEV05, FEV1 and FEF25–75) was performed. The effects of prenatal PAH exposure on lung function tests repeated over the follow-up were adjusted in the General Estimated Equation (GEE) model for the relevant covariates. No association between FVC with prenatal PAH exposure was found; however for the FEV1 deficit associated with higher prenatal PAH exposure (above 37ng/m3) amounted to 53mL (p=0.050) and the deficit of FEF25–75 reached 164mL (p=0.013). The corresponding deficits related to postnatal residential indoor PAH level (above 42ng/m3) were 59mL of FEV1 (p=0.028) and 140mL of FEF25–75 (p=0.031). At the higher residential outdoor PAH level (above 90ng/m3) slightly greater deficit of FEV1 (71mL, p=0.009) was observed. The results of the study suggest that transplacental exposure to PAH compromises the normal developmental process of respiratory airways and that this effect is compounded by postnatal PAH exposure.

Indoor/outdoor relationships and diurnal/nocturnal variations in water-soluble ion and PAH concentrations in the atmospheric PM2.5 of a business office area in Jinan, a heavily polluted city in China

Indoor/outdoor and diurnal/nocturnal variations in PM2.5 and associated water-soluble ions and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were examined in a business office during the summer and autumn of 2010 in Jinan, China. Both indoor and outdoor PM2.5 levels were higher than the value recommended by the WHO, and outdoor sources were found to be the major contributors to indoor PM2.5. SO42−, NO3− and NH4+ were the dominant water-soluble ions in both indoor and outdoor particles. During daytime, NO3− mainly came from indoor sources, which was related to the temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air. During daytime, the 15 monitored PAHs were all largely from indoor sources, while during nighttime, the 3–4-ring PAHs were mainly generated indoors and the 5–6-ring PAHs predominantly came from the outdoor air. The diurnal/nocturnal variations of PAHs suggested that gas/particle partitioning driven by temperature makes a significant contribution to the variation in PAH concentrations. The diagnostic ratios revealed that biomass burning had an important contribution to outdoor PAH concentrations in autumn. The results of a risk assessment of PAH pollution suggested that indoor PAHs present more carcinogenic and mutagenic risks during daytime. Our results indicated that serious indoor air pollution in a business office presents a high health risk for workers.