Title: Sources and cancer risks assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter and surface soils in Kunming, China

Authors: Xinhao Wu; Xiaoxia Yang; Xiao Li; Xiaoman Li; Fengxia Han; Xuejun Pan

Addresses: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China ' Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China ' Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China ' Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China ' Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China ' Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China

Abstract: The concentrations, possible sources and cancer risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), total suspended particles (TSP) and surface soils collected from the same sampling spots were analysed in Kunming, China. The total PAH concentrations in PM_2.5, TSP and surface soil were 7.44-25.64 ng/m³, 17.73-48.35 ng/m³ and 72.16-442.40 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Pyrogenic origins (especially coal, wood and fossil fuel combustion) were identified as the main sources of PAHs in particulate matter (PM) and surface soils based on the diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA). The values of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCRs) that exposed to PAHs in PM_2.5 were slightly larger than 10⁻⁴, indicating high potential of carcinogenic risk. And the values of ILCRs showed that particle-bound PAHs with higher potential carcinogenic ability than soil PAHs. Moreover, compared with adults, the values of cancer risk among children were always higher.

Keywords: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; fine particulate matter; total suspended particles; surface soils; cancer risks; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2017.088005

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2017 Vol.9 No.1, pp.80 - 105

Received: 23 Mar 2017
Accepted: 21 Sep 2017
Published online: 13 Nov 2017 *

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