engleski

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 particle fractions and their carcinogenic activity

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the first atmospheric pollutants identified as suspected carcinogens. In ambient air, PAHs with higher molecular weights (more than 4 rings) are mostly bounded to particles. Particle size plays an important role in assessing health risks. The aim of this study was to compare concentrations of PAHs bound to particle fractions PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 (particles with a diameter smaller than 10 μm, 2.5 μm and 1 μm, respectively) as well as to estimate their carcinogenic potency. Measurements of ten PAHs were carried out in 2014 at urban location in the northern part of Zagreb, Croatia. 24-hour samples of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 particle fraction were collected, forty per season. The PAH analysis was performed using high performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector. The total carcinogenic potency (TCP) of PAHs was estimated by calculating benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentrations using toxic equivalence factors from the literature. The average TCPs for the overall period were 4.287, 1.898 and 1.630 ng/m3 for PM10, PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. The lowest TCP was recorded in summer and the highest in winter. The highest contribution to the TCP were from benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a, h)antrachene, indeno(1, 2, 3, cd)pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene and altogether they contributed between 91 and 94 % in all fractions and seasons.

benzo(a)pyrene ; PAHs ; seasonal variations ; toxic equivalency factors ; urban location ;

nije evidentirano