Occurrence, potential source, and cancer risk of PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their halogenated derivatives in Shizuoka, Japan, and Dhaka, Bangladesh

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 196; p. 110909
• Main Authors: Sei, Kento, Wang, Qi, Tokumura, Masahiro, Hossain, Anwar, Raknuzzaman, Mohammad, Miyake, Yuichi, Amagai, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-05-2021
• Subjects: Gas chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS); Halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (XPAHs); Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR); Positive matrix factorization (PMF); Potential source; Principal component analysis (PCA); Positive matrix factorization (PMF); Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR); Gas chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS); Potential source; Principal component analysis (PCA); Halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (XPAHs)
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110909

Because of their unintentional formation and low vapor pressure, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their halogenated derivatives (XPAHs) in the atmosphere are distributed primarily to aerosolized particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). However, no information is available regarding the occurrence of PM2.5-bound PAHs and XPAHs in Bangladesh, one of the most highly PM2.5-polluted regions worldwide. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of PM2.5-bound PAHs and XPAHs in the atmospheres of Dhaka in Bangladesh and Shizuoka in Japan (as a reference) and estimated their incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCRs). In addition, we statistically estimated the potential sources of PM2.5-bound PAHs and XPAHs by using principal component analysis and positive matrix factorization. The median concentration of total PM2.5-bound PAHs and XPAHs in Bangladesh was 24.2 times that in Japan. The estimated potential sources of PAHs clearly differed between Japan and Bangladesh, whereas those of XPAHs were largely (>80%) unknown in both countries. The median ILCR in Bangladesh was 2.81 × 10−3, which greatly exceeded the upper limit of acceptable risk (10−4). These results indicate that comprehensive monitoring and control of atmospheric PM2.5-bound PAHs and XPAHs are needed urgently, especially in highly polluted countries.
•PM2.5-bound PAHs and XPAHs were simultaneously measured in Japan and Bangladesh.•Median concentration of PAHs and XPAHs in Bangladesh was 24.2 times that in Japan.•Potential sources of XPAHs were largely (>80%) unknown in both countries.•Median ILCR in Bangladesh was greatly exceeded the upper limit of acceptable risk.