Health Risk Assessment on Exposure to PM2.5-bound PAHs from an Urban-industrial Area in Rayong City, Thailand

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A city's industrial area's air quality has become a major priority. PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most common pollutants in urban-industrial area, and can be linked to health problems. AIM: This study aims to 1) investigate PM2.5 and PAHs emitted from roadside area (RS) and industrial estate (IE) in Rayong city 2) assess the inhalation of PM2.5 and PAHs on the human health of the age group. METHODS: PM2.5-bound PAHs were investigated and thier carcinogenic risk was evalued in this study. PM2.5 samples were collected on quartz filters contained in a mini-volume air sampler and analyzed for PAHs by GC-MS. RESULTS: The average PM2.5 concentrations at RS and IE were 43.3±26.8 and 40.4±21.7 µg/m3, while the values of total PAHs in both sites were 1.68±1.53 and 1.34±1.22 ng/m3, respectively. However, it was found that the PM2.5 and PAHs values were not significantly different (p>0.05). The results revealed that the individual lifetime cancer risk (Ric) of PM2.5 values for children and adults at both sites indicated acceptable cancer risk (10-6 to10-4). According to the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values of PAHs for different age groups, exposure to PAHs in PM2.5 through the inhalation pathway was a negligible (<10-6). CONCLUSION: As a result, the PM2.5 concentrations have substantial implications for Rayong city’s environmental management and protection, relating to car emissions and coal combustion.